Joy Dean

I am a life-long resident of Indianapolis, Indiana. My dance background includes Ballroom, Middle Eastern, Country/Western, Polynesian, and Latin. I completed approximately nine years of ballroom dance instruction, and fifteen years of Middle Eastern dance training, performing, and teaching. Performing groups I have participated in are The Desert Winds, The Polynesian Winds, and The Red Brick Dance Team. I began Latin Dancing in 1997, which included Salsa, Merengue, Cha Cha, Bachata, Cumbia, Punta, and Tango. I began dancing with Douglas "T" Thompkins, owner of The Red Brick Dance Studio, in June 2001 and I have taught there for a year and a half. In July 2002, I attended my first Salsa Congresso in Puerto Rico. This past January 2004, I completed several classes under the direction of various well known instructors from California and Philadelphia.

Joy passed away on May 31st, 2006. She had battled with cancer for more than a year. For those of you who knew Joy, she was one of the nicest people we've ever known. She loved to dance and her Salsa friends were her family. We want to thank friends who made time to help driving Joy when she was in treatment and those who visited her. A dance scholarship fund in Joy's name was set up to benefit students enrolled in the Shortridge Dance Magnet. Donations should be made payable to Shortridge Middle School. Checks or money orders are acceptable. All donations are tax deductible. Please make sure you write in the memo area: Joy Dean Dance Fund, and send to: Shortridge Middle School, 3401 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208.

Reader's comments

This is truly sad. It only reinforces the fact that all people who live their life doing what is a passion for them, are in fact doing the right thing. Dancing was her passion. She made no excuses for it and lived her life with complete 'joie de vive.' May she continue to dance with the angels. She will be in my thoughts and prayers.
- Viola

I am so sorry about the passing of Joy. I am sure that she is in a better place, and not suffeirng any more. My heart goes out to all of you her knew her well. I wish that I had the chance to have known her better. Keep her in your hearts, and keep dancing, and her memory will live on. My thoughts and prayers are with the Indy salsa community, and with Joy's friends and family.
- Angela

I first met Joy at the Jazz Kitchen about eight years ago. She was quiet but always had a smile on her face. At that time, she had just gone into remission from breast cancer. She was eager to dance, perform, and teach whenever she could. She was one of the nicest people I've ever known. She treated people with kindness no matter how they treated her.
- Yang

This is very sad, and I’m sorry to hear this. I’m at the annual American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) this weekend in Atlanta, and though we’re making progress in therapies, the “success” of the current drugs is probably over-stated, and we obviously still have a huge unmet need for better approaches. Pains me and motivates me to be working on a potentially new and better drug at Semafore…hope we can be successful with it for the people like Joy to come.
- Derek

This is really sad. We all remember Joy as the nicest person, always happy with a wonderful heart. She also loved to dance more than anything and more than anybody. She is the one that gave me the love of dancing, something that transformed my life for the best. "First Teacher", as I used to call you, you're the kind of person that I would never forget. My thoughts are for you and your family.
- Sylvain

Joy, as everyone has already said, was the nicest person in the world. She was never rude, never impatient. She was as good and decent as a person can be in this life. I feel lucky to have known her and to have been her friend. I remember the first night I saw her in the Jazz Kitchen dancing. She looked like a tigress but talked like a kitten. She had a short, short black skirt on to show off her dancing legs, and a big smile on her face. She got the attention of plenty of the boys in the club. I want to remember her like that: dancing in one of her sexy outfits in the club, smiling all the way. We'll miss you Joy.
- Erin

As I write this, I am saddened by the untimely death of Joy Dean. Many of us in the Indy Salsa community, including myself, knew her as a warm hearted, kind woman. I wanted to share a moment in prayer for Joy. Our almighty Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has called Joy home and she will never have to deal with Cancer again. She will never have to deal with pain and suffering ever again. What she does have to look forward to is eternal life in the Heavenly Kingdom. Believe me when I tell you, even Heaven needs a person like Joy Dean. Right now I want to pray for the family and friends of Joy that our Lord may help us through this time of mourning. Joy, I know you're listening because that's what Angels do, I want you to know that you will be missed, but I for one know that you are in a much better place now. God is with you and may he be with us all here on Earth...Amen! Please bow your head in silence for 10 seconds in remembrance of Joy Dean. Thank you and God Bless you!!!
- DJ Jimmie Jim

I met Joy in 2002. As her name says she always a source of Joy in my heart and of those around her. My condolences goes out to Joy's family. Several people would like to put flowers on her grave, does anyone know where she is buried?
- Donna

I loved Joy for over 17 years, and never knew a better dancer, friend, companion or confidant. She will always be missed for her smile, laughter and her kindness. A true lady in the old fashion sense of the word, Joy brought great happiness into my life, and I am sure to many others there. Her best times in her life were shared with you folks there. Thank you for being to good to and for her. God Bless You Always. Live to Dance, Dance to Live!
- Donald B.

"Joy" as her name well reflects was a "JOY" -(YEAH, capital letters!) to have around. I do feel FORTUNATE to have known her for years! I am SO grateful for the time we shared, including the hours we spent at our lunch times practicing at the Studio. Thus, I am deeply sad for her early departure. Hopefully, she leaves us to be in a better place where she can always smile and dance without pain. I am seeing her already dancing and smiling at us! She will always be a source of inspiration and JOY! And,I am crying...
- Dr. Maby

Very sad news , i meet joy long time at the jazz like almost everybody, and we had great times dancing, shedidnt stop dancing i was so tired her energy,was great,i always remenber you with a big smile, i i will never forget you joy, you wil l always live in my heart with that beautiful smile . If somebody knows where she is please let me know i will like to put some flowers for her thank you.
- Doug

Joy was such a sweet person. I'm sorry to hear she has passed away. I will remember her.
- Amanda

Joy was allways there in the dance floor since I meet her in "Turks"; and even when I didn't know how to dance propperly, she never turn me down when I asked her to dance. Dancing was her real passion, and if I came back to the "Salsa scene", it was because she took the time to teachme every single detail of the basics to re-learn salsa. The comment I shoul add is: "Thank you Joy, one day we'll met again to complete the last dance."
- Jesus Hernsandez

For those of you who asked, Joy was buried at Maple Hill Cemetary in Plainfield.
- Patricia

Joy, showed me some of the first salsa steps, when I first moved to Indy, and I could not follow the salsa beat very well. I will not forget that she stood next to me through a song while I was trying to follow the beat. She was a good friend and a great dancer.
- Boris

Joy will truly be missed. She was my first salsa instructor at Red Brick, and simply knowing her opened up small windows of joy and compassion in my life. Thank you.
- Kimberlyt

I also took class with Douglas Thompkins and Joy. "T" had us work together on alot of the Latin Styling. She was a wonderful person and I really enjoyed her company. I think that we both learned alot from each other. May she rest in peace knowing that she touched so many people in her life here. GOD BLESS YOU JOY.
- Kionde Brooks

Siento mucho la muerte de Joy. siempre admire que a edad su energia y ganas de bailar, eran como de una persona de 25. conozco muchas mujeres jovenes que en vez de mostrar un entuasiamo joven reflejan una amargura y y como disgusto al ver que otros disfrutan la vida especialmente en personas de edad avanzada. Toda una inspiracion...
- Damaris

We were so sorry to hear of the passing of Joy. We did not know her persoanlly but have seen her on the dance floor. She was a wonderful dancer. Breat cancer is a killer. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERNECE. You can help by going into www.thebreastcancersite.com and click on FREE MAMOGRAM. Just clicking once or twice a day will enable free mamagram's for those that are less fortunate than us. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. (Chris's Mother recently died of breast cancer) Joy lost her battle but as an indivdual we can win the war. Our prayers go out to Joy and her families. She will be missed especially on the dance floor. Now in heaven with the Angels.
- Chris & Gary

Joy is in a place now where the frailness of the human body can not impede the passion of dancing Salsa. Like many, I met Joy at the Red Brick. I have many fond memories of Joy. I'd just like to share this with everyone. Two memories of Joy stick out in my mind. First, when Joy was suffering from an injury to her arm, she still would not stay off the dance floor. This was well be before her diagsis of cancer. She had a tremendous passion for dancing and would not let her injury keep her from enjoying the joy of Salsa. I remember we would dance, and somethings I would inadvertedly grab her injured arm and she would wince in pain. I would then try to escort her from the floor, but she refused leave, prefering to enjoy the dance, through the pain. Having developed the same passion for dancing, I've also danced through the pain of an injury. It's this passion that makes us "kinfolk", and Joy was truly a Sister in Salsa. My second memory is from months prior to that. I was new to the Red Brick and Tee would have me practice leading with Joy. I was new to the Studio, but I was not new to Salsa. Joy thought I couldn't dance, and would not follow my lead while we practiced. She would only follow if she told me to excecute a move. Anything else I tried to do, she would resist. A short time later, we were dancing at a social that Tee held at the Cozy, and she expressed suprise at how much she thought I had learned in such a short time. I then explained to herd her that I already knew how to dance Salsa, but she had a false perception that I was a beginner. It was funny, because during that incident she told me "No, You didn't know how to dance Salsa the way Tee does it" and I remember saying "No one does Salsa the way Tee does it" Many months latter, Tee was teaching us the basket, and she said to me, you don't do it the way Tee does it" And once again, I thought, "No one does it like Tee.." So, some time later, we where dancing at the Blue Cactus, long after Tee had left Indy. I led her through a series of moves that ending with a figure 8. As as we were leaving the floor, she looked at me with suprise and said, "You did that just like Tee would have done it" I think that was the moment that I realized the difference between a good dancer, and a good lead. As I said, Joy and I became good friends. Many other moments that we shared always centered on the good times from the Red Brick. Joy, we miss you and we are glad that your suffering is over.
- Kenny

Today, 8/5 is Joy's birthday..Happy Birthday Joy! You are gone, but never forgotten! Love always,
- DB