Biographical/historical: Jeanne Ruddy is an American dancer, choreographer and teacher. Her early dance training was in Miami. She was a principal dancer with the Martha Graham Company before forming her own company in 1999 in Philadelphia, Jeanne Ruddy Dance; the company's final season was in 2012. Ruddy directed the Graham-based modern dance program at Alvin Ailey American Dance Center from 1986-1995, and she taught at Juilliard from 1988-1998.