Allan Miles (Dellinger)

Allan Miles (Dellinger) 89, of Grove City, Ohio, formerly of Willshire, Ohio, died Monday, March 5, 2018, at the Brookdale Pinnacle, in Grove City, Ohio.  He was born February 23, 1929, in Willshire, Ohio, to the Rev. Lawrence and Esther (nee: Winkler) Dellinger.  Allan attended school in both Willshire and Rockford, Ohio.  After graduating from high school in 1947, he attended Huntington College, Huntington, Indiana, for two years before transferring to the St. Louis Conservatory of Music to study piano.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1953, after changing his focus to classical dance.  Allan continued his studies and began teaching at Allegro Studio, Chicago, Illinois.  He was then offered the opportunity to do further study at the Royal Ballet School in London, England, where he was a member of the Royal Academy of Dancing.  Returning to New York City, he was one of only 7 certified notators recognized by the Dance Bureau.  During his tenure there, from 1961-1966, he notated the Broadway Productions of Camelot and Carnival, as well as  works by Balanchine, Ruth Currier, and others.  Additionally, he taught notation at Julliard.  Deciding to leave NYC, he had several teaching positions including Stephens College, Columbia, MO., and University of Colorado summer program, Colorado Springs, Colorado, where other faculty included such notables as Merce Cunningham.

Mr. Miles came to Columbus, Ohio, in 1968, working for Ditzy Nagy Dance Studio as well as the Garrett School of Dance.  He began graduate studies at The Ohio State University and completed his MS degree in  1972.  Allan published Labanotation for Ballet Dancers, Gail Grant Dictionary of Classical Ballet in Labanotation, and Labanotation Workbook, Part I and Part II.

While in Columbus, Mr. Miles, as the artistic director from 1972-1975, choreographed several pieces for what became the Columbus Theater Ballet Association, formerly Christopher Ballet, including “Masquerade” by Khachaturian, “The Silent Cry”, and All American”, as well as being in continual demand as a Labanotation consultant throughout the country and operating his own school, The Allan Miles Ballet Academy.

In 1986, he moved to Richville in upstate New York to take a position at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, where he taught until retiring in 1994.  Deciding he needed a new challenge, he began figure skating classes.  After accomplishing his initial goal of learning to skate backwards, he could be seen practicing his spins and jumps, whenever ice time was available, well into his 80’s.

In 2008, he moved to Port Orange, Florida, wanting to try out a more hospitable climate, but in 2013, he moved back to Watertown, New York, deciding he missed snow after all, and his many friends.  He also could visit his old farm where he had enjoyed gardening in Summer and cross country skiing in Winter.  Failing health forced his return to Columbus in 2014 to be near family.

Mr. Miles was preceded in death by an infant sister, Catherine and a cousin, Nicholas Winkler.

He is survived by cousins, Ernest (Judy) Dellinger of Burbank, California; Anne Dellinger of San Bruno, California; Lorna Winkler Shrider of Indianapolis, Indiana; Glenda (David)  Wampler of Bridgewater, Virginia; Sharon Winkler Soliday of Ashville, Ohio; Philip (Ruth) Winkler of Tampa, Florida; and Nora Huber and Deanna Lynne of Port Orange, Florida.

During his remarkable life and career, Mr. Miles had a profound effect on an unknowable number of students, colleagues, and friends.  He faithfully maintained contact with them throughout the years.  His importance to them was demonstrated in his final years by the unflagging support they provided through visits, phone calls, cards, and letters as he coped with Lewy Body Dementia.  The family would particularly like to thank Susan Powers and Chris Rogers of Columbus, Ohio; La Verne and Cheryl Hamrick of Willshire, Ohio; and H. James Pierce III, MD, Ashville, Ohio, as well as his many caregivers at Brookdale Pinnacle, Grove City, Ohio.

There will be a private burial for Mr. Miles in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford.  There will be a memorial service at a later date at the convenience of the family.  Condolences may be expressed at ketchamripley.com.  Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford has been entrusted with Mr. Miles’ arrangements.