Support Joseph Dineen's Dance Recovery

Joseph Dineen is a mentor, friend, inspiration and pillar in the Washington Dance Community who has recently been impacted by an unexpected medical emergency.

Joseph is an icon in the Pacific Northwest. For over two decades, he has produced dancers who have dominated the competitive circuits. His feet, strong and expressive, have demonstrated every nuance of every step, from a delicate pas de bourée to a powerful jeté. Those feet are his lifeblood, the instruments of his art.

Unexpectedly, an average blister developed into something we never expected. A relentless infection, stubbornly resistant to antibiotics, threatened to spread. The only option, the surgeon said, was amputation of his big toe.

Joseph felt his world tilt. His big toe. It has been the anchor, the fulcrum, the quiet strength upon which so much of his balance, his power, his precision rested. His body is his instrument to live his passion and share his cherished art, with his feet supporting him every step of the way. This tremendous loss is unimaginable.

The surgery has now been completed and was a success. He has a couple of days in the hospital to recover. Once he returns home, the rehabilitation will begin. Many hours of physical therapy along with counseling to learn and regain the strength to teach again. The rehabilitation process will take anywhere from 2 - 4 months.

Joseph and his husband will be facing a multitude of challenges from medical bills and loss of income. We hope to support them in this as much as we can. They are a pinnacle of our dance family and have made an impact on so much of the greater dance community. We could not love them anymore, and we know so many are alongside us in this.

Joseph is one of the kindest, most thoughtful humans we know and we believe that his passion and heart will bring him the strength to come out of this. He radiates love and kindness. He has so much passion in guiding the next generations of dancers, and so much heart for the community around him. There is no one quite like Joseph, and we are so grateful to call him family.

“Recovery, rehabilitation, retraining and growth from this hardship will be a chapter for him that can only embolden and empower his passion for life and dance.”

Joseph is incredibly important to the corners of our community. He has dedicated his life to dance, to nurturing young talent, and now, he needs our help.