Joan has been dancing most of her life, she began teaching at age 15 for the Pasadena Recreation Department. She performed with the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in productions of the Nutcracker and various Stage plays & musicals. Joan performed with a touring group during World War II, entertaining servicemen in camps and hospitals with USO shows. As a teen Joan was deeply involved in Spanish Dancing taking classes under Raoul de Ramirez and performing in San Gabriel Festivals for 6 years. After moving to Redding, California Joan taught with the Redding School of Dance for 2 years. Joan officially opened her own school in Redding in 1957 and later moved to Burney California. In 1973 Joan opened her school in Susanville, where it has been for 44 years.