Joe Tremaine

Joe Tremaine (born 1938) is an American dancer, choreographer and dance teacher whose career has spanned stage, film, television and dance education. He co-founded Tremaine Dance Conventions and Competitions in 1981 and became known for teaching and popularizing West Coast jazz. After attending college, he trained and performed with the New Orleans Ballet Association and the New Orleans Opera before moving to New York City. Dance educator Jackie Sleight later recalled that she and Tremaine opened a studio together in North Hollywood before she left the partnership. He later taught performers including Diana Ross, Goldie Hawn, Barry Manilow and Cameron Diaz.

Jacqueline Nalett associated Tremaine's teaching with styles known as West Coast jazz or L.A. jazz, describing it as fast, rhythmically driven and responsive to current musical trends. Guarino wrote that his signature style drew on street-dance influences, freestyle movement and music.

By 2014, the convention circuit toured approximately 25 cities annually and taught about 50,000 dancers nationwide.

Recognition

Jazz Dance L.A. presented Tremaine with a lifetime achievement award in 2002. The program included a video tribute to his career and a restaging of his 1979 work ZZYZX.

The Industry Dance Awards honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

Four years later, Dance Teacher presented Tremaine with its Award of Distinction and described him as an innovator of West Coast jazz.

The University of Arizona awarded him an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts in 2022.