The Delsarte Project
About Joe
Researching the Delsarte System of Expression since 1995 and teaching workshops since 1998, Joe Williams is possibly the only current long-term teacher of the actual physical system of Delsarte training. What had begun as a curiosity regarding a ridiculed, yet fascinating, era of theater history is now a lifetime commitment to restoring respect for, and use of, Delsarte's system. The intervening years have been spent building a personal library of as many Delsarte-related books as could be found, and cross-referencing to best separate various period styles of use from the actual principles proposed by Delsarte and his earliest followers. Joe was also fortunate to become friend and student of Eileen Sears (1901-2004), possibly the last living student of the original Denishawn School in California, who could still, in the last 4 years of her life, pass on the “evolution of energy” exercises and movement qualities she learned from famed Delsartean, Ruth St. Denis. This provided a physical link to the earliest traditions.
Committed to reviving interest in this method, and to its validity, Joe has been teaching Delsarte with his Three Pillars approach unceasingly, and in as many venues as possible with successful results in a wide variety of artistic styles. He is pleased to be a consistent guest teacher for university dance, music and acting programs, ethnic dancers and burlesque artists, and yoga students, across the US and internationally.
Three Pillars Arts- the Delsarte Project – 2005- present
Sole director and teacher for advancing the knowledge of Delsarte’s work, his influences, techniques born of his work, and training future teachers of the Delsarte techniques and theories.
Teacher training is available.
Dalcroze Institute at Juilliard – 2003-2008
Created Delsarte-based expressive movement class, preparing students for both rhythmic and expressive movement requirements of the Dalcroze program. The program ended in 2008 after the death of its director Robert Abramson
Burlington Dances, Burlington, Vermont – 2010-2012,
Monthy and bi-monthy guest artist teaching weekend intensives in Delsarte for dance, yoga and music.
Cincinnati Yoga School, Cincinnati, Ohio – 2008-present
Teacher training faculty. Each teaching term, Joe leads a twelve to sixteen-hour Delsarte weekend intensive, required for yoga teacher certification at this school. The philosophical core and the body/mind/spirit principles of yoga are illustrated through the Delsarte use of trinity.
Master Classes:
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 2014- present Nearly Annual weekend Delsarte intensive with classes in technique and application to art and performance.
University of Wisconsin, Whitewater – 2012
Guest artist for one week, Delsarte for beginning and advanced acting classes, directing, contemporary dance, choreography, general musical interpretation, and conducting.
Cincinnati YMCA, Cincinnati, Ohio - 2012
Community and Self-expression: A Delsarte class exploring personal communication in human relationships.
University of Strasbourg – 2011
Delsarte lecture demo.
Musikhochschule Stuttgart – 2011
Delsarte movement masterclass.
Akademie Für gesprochenes Wort, Stuttgart – 2011
Delsarte Bicentennial Conference – Demonstration of technique, Panel on Delsarte’s vocal techniques, and brief recital of Delsarte’s vocal compositions.
Musikhochschule, Trossingen, Germany – 2011
All day workshop for students.
Institut National d’Histoire del’Art, Paris – 2011
Delsarte Bicentennial Conference – Full recital, selections of Delsarte’s vocal compositions and excerpts from his Archiv du Chant.
Centre National de la Danse, Pantin -2011
Classes in Delsarte techniques.
Centre International de Danse Jazz, Paris 2011
Class for students of ballet, jazz and modern dance.
Goa, India- 2011
Four day Delsarte intensive for Yoga Teacher Training.
Barnard College at Columbia, Dance Department – 2010
Guest lecturer and master class in Delsarte for a class studying the work of Ted Shawn.
Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Theater Department – 2009
Led movement classes for sophomore and junior acting students, teaching Delsartean principles.
Cincinnatti Conservatory of Music – 2009, 2012
Delsarte based movement class for the clarinet studio, illustrating musical principles similar to the Dalcroze program at Juilliard, with a musical focus on syncopation and jazz.
Barnard college at Columbia University – 2009 (in coordination with their Ballet Russe Centennial celebration) Master class for the cast of Nijinsky's “Afternoon of a Faun,” including coaching the dancers on analysis and interpretation of the choreography, using Delsarte.
Star Island Arts Conference – 2004, 2010
Daily Delsarte classes for conferees at weeklong conference.
Adelphi University – 2008
Delsarte Master class for the dance department in conjunction with the 70th anniversary Ruth St. Denis retrospective.
Xavier University Theater Department, Cincinnati Ohio – 2008
Presented a master class, "No Melodrama, Please” ~ Delsarte for the Modern Actor.
Lori Belilove's Isadora Duncan Foundation
Master class illustrating the Delsarte principles found in the Duncan Technique. In 2003, served as a Guest Artist, teaching a two-week Delsarte-based approach to Duncan to third graders. [Class footage on YouTube: http://bit.ly/hvvIkH]
The Great Burlesque Expo (Boston)– 2008, to Present
Master classes on principles of beauty, “art, not vulgarity”, symbolism of the body, and character development, and choreographic principles used by Delsartean choreographer Ned Wayburn of the Ziegfeld Follies.
Omaha Healing Arts Center, Omaha, NE – 2005
Six hour Delsarte intensive for theater and ethnic dance.
Morocco and Casbah Dance 2002-2011
Classes in Delsarte for ethnic dance. Ongoing faculty for all week-long seminars at this nationally and internationally recognized school for dances of the Near East.
Numerous classes in Delsarte for Ethnic Dance across the country since 1997.
Guest lecturer for communications classes at Bronx Community College and Mercy College, and for life drawing at the School for Visual Arts in Manhattan.
Research and physical technique consultant to Franck Waille, Delsarte author and researcher.
Artist in Residence, Ocean County Performing Arts Academy
Artistic Director/Choreographer [2001-2007] for Fourth Universalist Spiritual Dance Ensemble, teaching weekly Delsarte classes and creating choreographies with Delsarte.
Education
BA Communications, minor in theater Wright State University, Dayton Ohio
Dance education:
Scholarship Dayton Ballet School
Scholarship Jon Rodriguez School of Ballet, Dayton, Ohio
Modern, Jazz, Tap and Theater Dance - Wright State University
Music Education:
Scholarship for voice with Theodora van Westerhoeven, student of legendary coloratura Maria Ivoguen.
Metropolitan Tenor, Jon Frederick West
Apprentice and Assistant to former NYC Opera conductor, Charles Wendelkin Wilson, assisted in coaching singers and staging scenes from operas.
Dalcroze - Schlolarship for 7 years of study with Robert Abramson Dalcroze Institute.
