Carla Washington Hines, a longtime Philadelphia dance instructor and arts coordinator known for inspiring generations of city students through movement and creativity, died Nov. 2, one day before her 73rd birthday. Hines was a well-traveled dancer, choreographer, and arts educator who had her own studio and taught and led programs across Philadelphia. She served most notably as artistic director at the Institute for the Arts in Education and later as community engagement manager at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts. Shelly Dorfman, founder and executive director of the Institute for the Arts in Education, called her “a true partner” during their annual Lincoln Center Institute workshops. “She was just wonderful in all the work she did and loved by everyone — students, teachers, and artists,” she said. Hines was born Nov. 3, 1952, in Charleston, W.Va. After graduating from Grambling High School in Louisiana, she earned a bachelor’s degree in recreation from Grambling State University, where she was named Miss Freshman, and joined the Alpha Theta Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She received a master’s degree in fine arts and dance from the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts and soon began her career in Virginia, working with the Fairfax County Department of Recreation. She later moved to Philadelphia as an independent dancer and choreographer and performed with the Sun Ra Arkestra, traveling across the U.S. and Europe, and became known for her stage presence and artistry. She held positions with the John Coltrane Cultural Society and the Point Breeze Performing Arts Center and, as an instructor, inspired students at various schools in the city, including Strawberry Mansion High School and E.M. Stanton Elementary, where she helped implement a long-term dance residency funded by a Pennsylvania Council on the Arts grant. When discussing her work as the Clef Club’s arts and activities coordinator, Hines told The Philadelphia Tribune in 2010, “I really love working with the students here.” “The arts allow students to connect with each other, recognize their place in history, and become aware of who they are by examining themselves,” she added. Her husband of more than 54 years, Lovett Hines Jr., is a renowned arts advocate and music educator. He was associated with the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts for decades. “Together, they poured their hearts into the worlds of jazz, dance, and the arts — leaving behind a legacy as vibrant and enduring as the music and movement they cherished,” her family said in a tribute. “I grew up watching and admiring how Mr. Hines and Ms. Carla loved and supported each other in their individual endeavors,” saxophonist Jaleel Shaw said in an online tribute. “She had a big, warm heart and was a strong advocate of culture, arts, and education in the Black community.” In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Zara Hines and Lovett Hines III; mother, Thelma Williams; and sisters, Alyson Williams Azoodeh, Alicia Williams and Vanessa Washington Johnson. Services will be held Wednesday, Dec. 17, at Yesha Ministries Worship Center, 2301 Snyder Ave. Services begin at 11 a.m. Slater Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Stay informed and connected — subscribe to The Philadelphia Tribune NOW! Click Here Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don’t Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the ‘Report’ link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.
https://www.phillytrib.com/obituaries/carla-washington-hines-dance-instructor-and-arts-coordinator-dies-at-72/article_df9b67da-cc3b-4320-bb5a-3edc6a07d391.html
