Daniel Lewis

Founding Dean of Dance, New World School of the Arts
President, Miami Dance Futures

Daniel Lewis is an internationally-recognized dancer, teacher, choreographer and author, who joined New World School of the Arts (NWSA) in Miami, Florida as founding Dean of Dance in 1987. Here, drawing from nearly three decades of experience in the field, Mr. Lewis created the dance division’s eight-year professional program. In addition to developing and managing NWSA’s dance program, Mr. Lewis has heightened modern dance awareness in South Florida through Miami Dance Futures, a company he formed in 1988. Miami Dance Futures produced the highly successful Miami Balanchine Conference, the Dance History Scholars’ Conference, the National High School Dance Festival and the Modern Dance Sampler. Miami Dance Futures also produces local dance companies, including Houlihan and Dancers and Rosita Segovia’s Ballet Español.

Mr. Lewis is perhaps most widely known for his association with the work of Jose Limón, dancing with the company from 1962-74. As a choreographer, Mr. Lewis has been commissioned to create works by the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, Dallas Civic Opera, American Opera Center at Lincoln Center, Amherst College, the University of California at Los Angeles, and The Juilliard School, as well as companies in South America and England. His repertory company, Daniel Lewis Dance, has performed and taught extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Scandinavia. Mr. Lewis graduated from New York’s High School of Performing Arts in 1962 and The Juilliard School in 1967.

He has been received numerous national accolades including, but not limited to: The Florida Arts Recognition Award in 2001; Honorary Chairman of “dance4life,” a Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Nancy Smith Award in 2002; a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Dance Educations Organization in 2010. In 2011, Mr. Lewis received a proclamation from the floor of the Florida State Senate for his works in the arts in Florida by Senator Anitere Flores and he received the Martha Hill Lifetime Achievement Award in New York City. February 5th, 2011 was declared “Daniel Lewis Day” in Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami.