Bio


Janice Ross, Professor in the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies and former faculty director of ITALIC, Stanford's residence based Freshman arts immersion program, has a BA with Honors from UC Berkeley and MA and Ph.D degrees from Stanford. Her research interests and books focus on the intersections of social issues and their expression through performance. They include, Like A Bomb Going Off: Leonid Yakobson and Ballet as Resistance in Soviet Russia (Yale Univ. Press 2015), Anna Halprin: Experience as Dance (University of California Press 2007),winner of a de la Torre Bueno Award 2008 Special Citation, San Francisco Ballet at 75 (Chronicle Books 2007), Moving Lessons: The Beginning of Dance in American Education, (University of Wisconsin Press 2001/ University of Florida Press, Second Edition/2020) and, co-edited with Susan Manning and Rebecca Schneider, The Futures of Dance Studies, (University of Michigan Press (2020). Her research interests concern performance and social justice with a particular focus on tensions between political and aesthetic expression. Her essays on dance have been published in several anthologies including The Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Ballet (Oxford Univ. Press, 2020), The Aging Body in Dance: A Cross Cultural Perspective, (Routledge, 2017),The Oxford Handbook of Improvisation (2019) Soloists and The Modern Dance Canon (Univ. Press of Florida, 2012), Dignity in Motion: Dance, Human Rights and Social Justice, edited by Naomi Jackson (Scarecrow Press 2008), Perspectives on Israeli and Jewish Dance, ed. Judith Brin Ingber, (Wayne State University Press, 2008), Performance and Ritual, edited by Mark Franco (Routledge 2007), Everything Was Possible (Re) Inventing Dance in the 1960s, edited by Sally Banes (University of Wisconsin Press 2003), Caught by Surprise: Essays on Art and Improvisation, edited by Ann Cooper Albright and David Gere (Wesleyan University press 2003). Her awards include a Guggenheim Fellowship, two Stanford Humanities Center Fellowships, a Fulbright Fellowship to Israel, as well as research grants from the Iris Litt Fund of the Clayman Institute for Research on Women and Gender, the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, the 2016 CORD Award for Outstanding Contributions to Dance Research , an NYU Fellowship for the Center for Ballet and the Arts (2018) and a Bogliasco Foundation Fellowship (Italy 2022). Her articles on dance have appeared in numerous publications including The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. She is past President of the international Society of Dance History Scholars.

Academic Appointments


  • Emeritus Faculty, Acad Council, Theater and Performance Studies

Administrative Appointments


  • Stanford Humanities Center Fellowship, Stanford University (2011 - 2012)
  • Guest Professor, Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Hebrew University, Israel (2010 - 2010)
  • Professor (Teaching), Stanford University, Drama Dept. (2008 - Present)
  • Associate Professor (Teaching), Stanford University, Drama Department (2004 - 2008)
  • Appointed Affiliated Scholar, Institute for Research on Women and Gender, Stanford University (2002 - 2003)
  • Lecturer, Stanford University, Dance Division & School of Education (1989 - 2004)

Honors & Awards


  • Israel Institute, Invited Fellow, Israel Institute, Jerusalem, Israel (Summer 2016)
  • Fulbright Senior Fellowship, Israel, Fulbright Fellowship, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Sept. 2010- Jan. 2011)
  • International Dance Studies Association 2015 Award for Outstanding Scholarly Research In Dance, International Dance Studies Association (June 2016)
  • Isadora Duncan Dance Award, San Francisco (2014)
  • Miriam Roland Award for Public Service, Stanford University (2010)
  • 2009 Dance Scholar-in-Residence, San Francisco Ballet, SF, CA (2008-2009)
  • Invited Research Fellow, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Beckett, MA (2008)
  • The de Ia Torre Bueno 2008 Special Citation, Society of Dance History Scholars (2008)
  • Djerassi Resident Artists Program Fellow, Djerassi Resident Artists Program (2002)
  • Peninsula Community Foundation Fellowship, Outstanding Artist, Peninsula Community Foundation (2002)
  • Stanford Humanities Center Internal Fellowship, Humanities Center, Stanford University (2001-2002& 2011-2012)
  • John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation (2001-2002)
  • Isadora Duncan Award, University of California, Berkeley (1994)
  • Fellow at Cottages at Hedgebrook Feminist Writers Colony, Hedge brook, Whidbey Island, Washington (1993)
  • Fellow at Cottages at Hedgebrook Feminist Writers Colony, Hedge brook, Whidbey Island, Washington (1992)
  • Oakland Tribune's Publishers Awards for Excellence in Arts Writing, Oakland Tribune's Publishers (1989)
  • Oakland Tribune's Publishers Awards for Excellence in Arts Writing, Oakland Tribune's Publishers (1988)
  • Oakland Tribune's Publishers Awards for Excellence in Arts Writing, Oakland Tribune's Publishers (1987)
  • Oakland Tribune's Publishers Awards for Excellence in Arts Writing, Oakland Tribune's Publishers (1986)
  • Oakland Tribune's Publishers Awards for Excellence in Arts Writing, Oakland Tribune's Publishers (1985)
  • National Endowment for the Arts Dance Critics Fellowship, American Dance Festival, Conn. College (1977)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations


  • Director of Graduate Studies, Dept. of Theatre and Performance Studies (2015 - 2017)
  • Faculty Freshman and Sophomore Advisor, Stanford University (2013 - 2014)
  • Faculty Director ITALIC- ILE Freshmen residential program, Stanford University (2012 - 2017)
  • Breadth Governance Board member, Stanford University (2012 - 2016)
  • Faculty Freshman and Sophomore Advisor, Stanford University (2012 - 2013)
  • Editorial board member, Routledge Encyclopedia of Modernism (2011 - 2015)
  • Member, Committee for Review of Undergraduate Majors, Stanford University (2009 - 2011)
  • Director, Dance Division, Drama Dept., Stanford University (2008 - 2013)
  • President, International Society of Dance History Scholars (2008 - 2011)
  • Member, National Research Advisory Board, Temple University (2007 - 2010)
  • Chair, Faculty Steering Committee,, Haas Center for Public Service, Stanford University (2007 - 2009)
  • Member, Faculty Steering Committee, Stanford Center on Longevity Mobility Project, Psychology Dept (2007 - 2009)
  • Faculty Freshman and Sophomore Advisor, Stanford University (2007 - 2008)
  • President- Elect, International Society of Dance History Scholars (2007 - 2008)
  • Dance Adjudicator, Los Angeles, CA (2007 - 2007)
  • Member, Faculty Advisory Committee, Stanford Institute for Creativity in the Arts (2006 - 2010)
  • Member, Faculty Advisory Board, Michelle Clayman Institute for Gender Research (2006 - 2009)
  • Faculty Freshman and Sophomore Advisor, Stanford University (2006 - 2007)
  • Undergraduate Advisor- Freshmen and Sophomores, Stanford University (2005 - Present)
  • Member, Board of Directors, Congress on Research on Dance (2005 - 2008)
  • Vice Chair, Faculty Steering Committee, Haas Center for Public Service, Stanford University (2005 - 2007)
  • Faculty Freshman and Sophomore Advisor, Stanford Univeristy (2005 - 2006)
  • Member, Faculty Steering Committee, Institute for Diversity in the Arts (2004 - 2008)
  • Editorial board member, Journal of Arts and Learning (2001 - 2004)
  • Editorial board member, Journal of Dance Education (2000 - 2007)
  • Principal Researcher, George Balanchine Foundation, N.Y. (2000 - 2002)
  • Member, Bd, International Society of Dance History Scholars (1999 - 2005)
  • Member, Board of Directors, Society of Dance History Scholars (1999 - 2005)
  • Grants Panelist, Walter & Elise Haas Creative Work Fund (1998 - 1998)
  • Member of the Arts Task Force, Menlo Park School District (1992 - 1993)
  • Grants Panelist in Dance, Bush Foundation Artist Fellowships, St. Paul, Minnesota (1992 - 1992)
  • Feminist Studies Resource Faculty, Stanford University (1990 - 2012)
  • Director, Graduate Program in Dance Education, Stanford University (1990 - 2000)
  • President, & Board Member, International Dance Critics Association (1988 - 1992)
  • Chair, National Endowment for the Arts, Dance Panel, Policy & Services to Field (1987 - 1996)
  • Member, Awards Committee, Rockefeller Foundation for the Arts & Humanities, New York (1987 - 1987)
  • Member, Awards Nominating Committee, San Francisco Bay Area Dance Coalition, Annual Isadora Duncan Awards, S. F., CA (1986 - 1999)
  • Member, Awards Committee, National Choreography Project, New York, NY (1986 - 1986)
  • Member, Advisory Board, Talking Dance Project Ellen Webb Dance Foundation, Berkeley, CA (1985 - 1988)
  • Staff Dance & Arts Critic, Oakland Tribune Oakland, CA (1980 - 1990)
  • Co-director, West Coast Institute for Dance Criticism San Francisco, CA (1980 - 1980)
  • Contributing Editor and Staff Critic, Dancemagazine New York, N.Y. (1977 - 1997)
  • Staff Dance Critic and Columnist, S.F. Bay Guardian San Francisco, CA (1977 - 1980)
  • Founding Member of the CAC Dance Panel, California Arts Council, Sacramento, CA (1977 - 1979)
  • Performance Art Critic and Editor, Artweek Oakland, CA (1976 - 1980)
  • Staff Dance Critic and Columnist, Berkeley Gazette Berkeley, CA (1975 - 1977)

Program Affiliations


  • Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Professional Education


  • Ph.D., Stanford University, Education (1998)
  • Master of Arts, Stanford University, Dance Education (1975)
  • Bachelor of Arts, University of California, Berkeley, Art History (1973)

2023-24 Courses


Stanford Advisees


All Publications


  • Ballet and the Renegotiation of Identity among Jewish Orthodox Women in Israel ARTS Ross, J. L. 2022; 11 (5)
  • Queering the Skeleton in Dance's Closet DANCE RESEARCH JOURNAL Ross, J. 2022; 54 (2): 33-53
  • Dance and aging Anna Halprin dancing Eros at the end of life AGING BODY IN DANCE: A CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE Ross, J., Nakajima, N., Brandstetter, G. 2017: 137–47
  • Like A Bomb Going Off: Leonid Yakobson and Ballet as Resistance in Soviet Russia Ross, J. Yale University Press. 2014
  • Inside/Beside Dance Studies: A Conversation DANCE RESEARCH JOURNAL Clayton, M., Franko, M., George-Graves, N., Lepecki, A., Manning, S., Ross, J., Schneider, R. 2013; 45 (3): 5–28
  • The Solo That Isn't a Solo: Ann Carlson's Dances With Animals On Stage Alone: Soloists and The Modern Dance Canon Ross, J. edited by Gitelman, C., Palfy, B. University of Florida Press. 2012
  • Interview with Anna and Lawrence Halprin: Redo of the 1969 Yvonne Rainer 1969 Interview Anna Halprin Mouvements de Vie, 60 ans de recherches. de creations ct de transformation. par Ia danse. traduit de I'anglais par Argaud et Luccioni Ross, J. Contredanse Press, Brussles. 2010
  • Jewish Culture and Identity in the Russian Ballet: The Case of Leonid Jacobson Perspectives on Israeli and Jewish Dance Ross, J. edited by Ingber, J. B. Wayne State University Press. 2010
  • Atomizing Cause and Effect: Ann Halprin's 1960s Summer Dance Workshops ART JOURNAL Ross, J. 2009; 68 (2): 62-75
  • Judson Dance Theatre: Performative Traces (Book Review) TDR-THE DRAMA REVIEW-THE JOURNAL OF PERFORMANCE STUDIES Book Review Authored by: Ross, J. 2009; 53 (2): 161-164
  • Anna Halprin: Experience As Dance Ross, J. University of California Press, Berkeley. 2009
  • Choreographing Nature Where the Revolution Began: Lawrence and Anna Halprin & Lhe Reinvention of Public Space Ross, J. Spacemaker Press, Portland. 2009
  • 321 Divisadero: Staircase to Dance Experimentation The San Prancisco Tape Music Center: 1960s Counter-culture and the Avant-Garde, Ross, J. edited by Berstein, D. University of California Press and (EMP A C) at Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute. 2008
  • Doing Time: Dance in Prisons Dignity in Motion: Dance. Human Rights and Social Justice Ross, J. edited by Jackson, N. Scarecrow Press. 2008
  • Parades and Changes: The Art of Revolution in the 1960s Program essay, Festival d,Automne I Centre Pompidou, Paris Ross, J. 2008
  • Lighting the way: Contrasting arguments for the arts in education JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION Ross, J. 2007; 41 (2): 271-276
  • San Francisco Ballet at Seventy-Five Commissioned book on the history of America's oldest ballet company Ross, J. Chronicle Books, San Francisco. 2007
  • Illness as danced urban ritual RITUAL AND EVENT: INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES Ross, J., Franko, M. 2007; 7: 138–58
  • Book Review of "Feelings are Facts: A Life Women & Performance: A Journal of Feminist Theory Ross, J. 2007; 17 (2): 264-267
  • Anna Halprin: Experience As Dance Ross, J. University of California Press, Berkeley. 2007
  • Anna Halprin: Dance Educator Dance Teacher Magazine Ross, J. 2007
  • Lighting the Way: Dance in the Academy Journal of the Philosophy of Education Ross, J. 2007; 41 (2)
  • Jewish Women in Israel Ross, J., Jacobson, I. Shalvi Publishing, Jerusalem, Israel. 2006
  • Illness as Danced Urban Ritual Ritual and Event: Interdisciplinary Perspectives Ross, J. edited by Franko, M. Routledge Press, London. 2006
  • A hidden soul of artistry: Thinking in forgotten areas of the arts PHI DELTA KAPPAN Ross, J. 2005; 87 (1): 32-37
  • Halprin Takes Paris Dancemagazine, Ross, J. 2005: 20
  • Teaching History Dance Teacher Now Ross, J. 2005: 86-87
  • Merce Cunningham & the Moderning of Modern Dance Dance Research Journal Ross, J. 2005; 37 (1): 140-144
  • Never Too Late for a Kick Line Dancemagazine Ross, J. 2005: 22
  • Anna Halprin's urban rituals TDR-THE DRAMA REVIEW-A JOURNAL OF PERFORMANCE STUDIES Ross, J. 2004; 48 (2): 49-67
  • John Neumeier - The who in Hamburg Ballet DANCE MAGAZINE Ross, J. 2004; 78 (2): 46-?
  • Anna Halprin - From dance art to healing art DANCE MAGAZINE Ross, J. 2004; 78 (1): 74-77
  • The Ressurection of A Genius Dancemagazine Ross, J. 2004: 19
  • Improvisation as Child's Play Caught By Surprise: Essays on Art and Improvisation Ross, J. edited by Albright, A. C., Gere, D. Wesleyan University Press. 2004
  • The Importance of Being Artist: Reflections on Elliot Eisner Intricate Palette Ross, J. edited by Matthews, J., Urmecher, B. Prentice Hall Publishers. 2004
  • The Instructable Body Embodied Knowledge Ross, J. edited by Bresler, L. Kulwer Publishers. 2004
  • Elizabeth Loscavio Dancemagazine Ross, J. 2004: 53
  • Natural Dance Dance photographs by Hal Eastman, Commissioned Forward by Janice Ross Ross, J. Peregrine Images, Boise, Idaho,. 2003
  • Revolution for the Art oflt: Anna Halprin and Avant-Garde Dance Everything Was Possible: (Re) Inventing Dance in the 1960s Ross, J. edited by Banes, S. University of Wisconsin Press. 2003
  • Sandy Walker and the Painter's Dance The Paintings of Sandy Walker Ross, J. Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State Museum. 2003
  • Juvie Jazz: Jazz Dance for Incarcerated Teens Community Matters Ross, J. edited by Ford, M., Schave, E. Addison Wesley Press. 2002
  • Institutional forces and the shaping of dance in the American university DANCE CHRONICLE Ross, J. 2002; 25 (1): 115-124
  • Notable American Women Ross, J., H'Doubler, M. Harvard University Press, Boston, MA. 2002
  • The Dance Critic, The Classroom and The Re-education of Perception Passion And Pedagogy Ross, J. edited by Sherman, D., Mirochnik, E. Peter Lang Publishing. 2002
  • Juvie Jazz: Giving Teens New Footing Dancemagazine Ross, J. 2000 : 74-77, 99
  • Arts Education In The Information Age: A New Place For Somatic Wisdom Arts Education Policy Review Ross, J. 2000
  • Margaret H'Doubler: The non-dancing Matriarch of Dance in Education Dance Teacher Ross, J. 2000
  • Jewish Culture and Identity in the Russian Ballet: The Case of Leonid Jacobson Jewish Folklore and Ethnology Review Ross, J. 2000
  • Moving Lessons: Margaret H'Doubler and The Beginning of Dance In American Education Ross, J. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wisconsin. 2000
  • Dancing women: Female bodies on stage (Book Review) DANCE RESEARCH JOURNAL Book Review Authored by: Ross, J. 1999; 31 (2): 111-114
  • A Simple Man: The Diary ofVaslav Nijinsky Los Angeles Times Book Review Ross, J. 1999
  • San Francisco Ballet: A Luxury of Talent Dancemagazine Ross, J. 1998
  • Dancing Defined Los Angeles Times Book Review Ross, J. 1998
  • Jewish Women In America, An Historical Encyclopedia Haprin, A., Ross, J., Moore, D. Carlson Publishing Inc., New York. 1997
  • Jewish Women In America, An Historical Encyclopedia Halprin, A., Hyman, P., Moore, D., Ross, J. Routledge: London. 1997
  • Dance Ink Photographs Los Angeles Times Book Review Ross, J. 1997
  • SAN-FRANCISCO-BALLET MEN - PUSHING PAST THE COMFORT-ZONE DANCE MAGAZINE Ross, J. 1996; 70 (6): 56-60
  • International Dictionary of Ballet Yakobson, L., Ross, J. St. James Press, London. 1995; 2
  • Della Davidson: A Fluent Writer for The Body Dance Theatre Journal Ross, J. 1995; 11 (4)
  • American National Biography Yakobson, M., Schollar, L. Oxford University Press; North Carolina. 1995
  • Moving Towards Life: Five Decades QfTransformational Dance.- Collected Writings Of Anna Halprin Commissioned essay Ross, J. edited by Rachel, K. Wesleyan University Press, Middletown, Conn. 1995
  • THE END OF THE BEGINNING, THE MARGARET-JENKINS-COMPANY AT 20 DANCE MAGAZINE Ross, J. 1994; 68 (6): 34-39
  • The Right Moves: Challenges of A Dance Assessment Arts Education Policy Review Ross, J. 1994; 96 (1)
  • Moving Lessons: Dance In Higher Education Liberal Education Ross, J. 1994: 40-43
  • SAN-FRANCISCO-BALLET, THE CALIFORNIA DREAM AT 60 DANCE MAGAZINE Ross, J. 1993; 67 (2): 56-61
  • ODC/SAN-FRANCISCO + ARTISTIC DIRECTOR WAY,BRENDA PRESENTS DANCES THAT REFLECT THE COMPANY UNIQUE POINT-OF-VIEW DANCE MAGAZINE Ross, J. 1992; 66 (4): 46-50
  • Innocence Abroad: the 1965 Stockholm Premiere of Anna Halprin's Parades of Changes Conference Proceedings Ross, J. 1992
  • Where Is Modern Dance Going? Reflections from Anna Halprin TDR (The Drama Review) Ross, J. 1992
  • THE ART OF CHOREOGRAPHY + EXCERPT FROM AN UNPUBLISHED LETTER BY JACOBSON,LEONID JANUARY 26, 1975 DANCE MAGAZINE Ross, J. 1991; 65 (12): 49-49
  • JACOBSON,LEONID FREE AT LAST + SAN-FRANCISCO-BALLET PRODUCTION OF 'RODIN' DANCE MAGAZINE Ross, J. 1991; 65 (12): 46-48
  • SAN-FRANCISCO-BALLET, HELGI DOMAIN + TOMASSON,HELGI, COMPANY MEMBERS AND REPERTOIRE DANCE MAGAZINE Ross, J. 1991; 65 (9): 38-?
  • Leonid Jacobson Free At Last Dancemagazine Ross, J. 1991: 46-49
  • On Moving From Criticism to Academia Dance Critics Association Newsletter Ross, J. 1991
  • SILENT DANCING, THE ASCENT OF CARPENTER,MELISSA DANCE MAGAZINE Ross, J. 1990; 64 (12): 38-42
  • The Ascent of Melissa Carpenter; SF Ballet's Unique Deaf Ballerina Dancemagazine Ross, J. 1990: 28-31
  • San Francisco Ballet Joins The Big Leagues Diversion Magazine Ross, J. 1990: 45-52
  • Crossing the Line Feature on Suzanne Lacy's Performance Work in Finland High Performance Ross, J. 1990
  • On The Edge: Challenges to American Dance Essays, interviews and conversations on Dance in America edited by Steinberg, S., Ross, J. Dance Critics Association, San Francisco. 1990
  • In Step With The Past, A History of Dance at Stanford Stanford Magazine Ross, J. 1990: 34-37
  • Elizabeth Loscavio, San Francisco Ballet's New Star Confetti Magazine, New York Ross, J. 1990
  • San Francisco's Joe Goode: Working Hard to Be the Bad Boy of Modem Dance Dancemagazine Ross, J. 1989
  • Inga Weiss; A Life in Dance Dance Teacher Now Ross, J. 1989: 30-34
  • Why A Swan? San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum Journal edited by Ross, J., Steinberg, S. 1989
  • Bonnie Bird, A Legendary Dance Educator Dance Teacher Now Ross, J. 1988: 40-43
  • San Francisco Ballet's New Era Under Helgi Tomasson Dancemagazine Ross, J. 1987
  • Val Caniparoli- SFB's Promising Choreographer Dancemagazine Ross, J. 1987
  • What the Critics Say About Tanz Theatre The Drama Review Ross, J. 1986; 30 (2): 80-85
  • Six Versions of Simultaneity: The Choreography of Margaret Jenkins On the Next Wave, the magazine of the Brooklyn Academy's Next Wave Festival Ross, J. 1985; 3 (1-2): 26-30
  • Living on the Edge with Margaret Jenkins Dancemagazine Ross, J. 1984: 136-139
  • Radical Shifts to the Middle Ground: SF's Oberlin Dance Collective Dancemagazine Ross, J. 1984: 64-68
  • San Francisco: Two Views ofthe San Francisco Ballet; A Brave New Tempest Dancemagazine Ross, J. 1980: 56-61
  • Bay Ways: A Climate for Free Spirits Dancemagazine Ross, J. 1980: 78-85
  • Bill Irwin: Getting Physical with Comedy Dancemagazine Ross, J. 1980: 78-85
  • Dancing in the West Profiles of West Coast Dance Companies Ross, J. Wadsworth Publishing Co., Belmont, CA. 1979
  • Born Again Ballet; San Francisco Ballet's Re-emergence as a New Dance Power Horizon Magazine Ross, J. 1978