About
Hello and welcome,
As a fourth generation performer, I defied the family tradition and pursued my passion for ballet. Hired by Chicago Ballet at seventeen, I developed a versatile repertoire including classical, avant garde, modern and jazz works. I eventually progressed to principal ballerina with a repertoire of over sixty roles.
My husband soon realized whom he had married when he was thrust into building a sprung wooden floor to create The Studio: Centre for Excellence in Dance and Photography in Nokomis, Florida. And then, since writing always called to me I walked into the Sarasota Herald Tribune and told them they needed me. I got hired on the spot as dance writer/critic. True story!
After a year or so, I created the Nokomis Dance Ensemble, a group of my studio dancers that I directed and choreographed, who fostered a vibrant dance community. After four years of writing, directing, and teaching the studio gave its final performance at the Asolo Theatre in Sarasota, Florida.
My husband and I traveled west for my graduate degree at Arizona State University and would up staying for twenty-two years. During that time I advocated for the voice of the dancer, wrote four books and taught over 4,000 students. Honored for my expertise, time, and effort I retired as professor emerita in 2023.
Realizing transitions can often be challenging I began to write my dance memoir during my last year as a professor. The process of going back over my life in dance illuminated a new picture of this art form I have dedicated my life to. Like a deft crafter, dance pushed me towards new endeavors that fed my creativity and expanded my understanding of the performing arts. I stepped into retirement with ease knowing dance would find another way to nourish me.
It did. Edie and her Double O Tutu mysteries became possible. In writing these light-hearted mysteries I continue my advocacy for the voice of the dancer peppering each mystery with elements of current ballet issues and honor ballet history, another passion of mine.
What do I feel the voice of the dancer can contribute?
Dancers negotiate constant change through skills that hone spatial awareness and an openness to possibilities both to increase movement success. In short, dancers make problems disappear and opportunities appear. I want to broadcast this magic a dancer creates because I have this crazy idea that the voice of a dancer will positively contribute to social change.
Try it! Take a dance class and see if it doesn’t change the way you interact with the world!
