Counties

Below is a complete listing of all Ohio Historical Markers. To find a detailed marker listing including text, photographs, and locations, click on a county below. Our listing is updated by the markers program as new markers are installed and older markers are reported damaged or missing.

24-57 Josephine and Hermene Schwarz

Side A: Dayton natives Hermene (1902-1986) and Josephine Schwarz (1908-2004) were pioneers of dance who founded one of the first regional ballet companies in the country. In 1927, they opened the Schwarz School of Dance, which eventually became the Dayton Ballet in 1978. Josephine’s choreography blended classical ballet traditions and contemporary dance, creating a fusion of styles that through her students and other companies shaped the development of dance in the United States. The sisters are credited with introducing organized dance to African-American and underserved children in the Dayton area. As part of the sisters’ legacy, Josephine created a fund at the Dayton Foundation in memory of Hermene to support Dayton arts and artists.
Side B: Same
Sponsors: Dayton Regional STEM School, Former Schwarz Students Jane and David Dunwoodie, and The Ohio History Connection
Address: Victoria Theater, 140 N Main Street, 
Dayton, 
OH, 
45402
Location: Mounted on the wall along the E 1st Street side of the building
Latitude: 39.7622950
Longitude: -84.1921820