Brief Resume

Education

Doctor of Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Master of Arts, Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, WI
Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Bachelor of Science, University of Holy Cross, New Orleans, LA

Significant Honors

National Outstanding Researcher, National Dance Education Organization 2024

Marquis’ Who’s Who in American Women—Arts Educator

National Dance Educator of the Year 2000, National Dance Association

Dance Historian Fellowship, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Professional Experience

Creative Movement Teacher:  Vancouver School District, Vancouver, WA
Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, Upper Darby, PA

Owner and Artistic Director:  Melody In Motion School of Dance, West Bend, WI

Adjunct Faculty: Tulane University, Department of Theatre and Dance, New Orleans, LA
Washington State University, Vancouver, Washington
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
Camden County College, Blackwood, NJ
Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA  

 Publications

2023 Black Tap Dance and Its Women Pioneers, McFarland & Company, Inc. Publishers, Jefferson, NC

2016 Tappin’ at the Apollo: The African American Female Tap Dance duo Salt and Pepper, McFarland & Company, Inc. Publishers, Jefferson, NC

2004     Dance Education Tips from the Trenches, Human Kinetics Publishing Company, Champaign, IL

2000    “Developing Strong Communication Between the Classroom Teacher and the Dance Educator,” Proceedings from the 2000 Conference of daCi, Dance and The Child: International held in Saskatchewan, Regina, Canada.

1999    “Alice Whitman,” published in American National Biography.  Cary, NC: Oxford University Press.

1997    “African-American Rhythm Tappers,” published in Dancing Female: lives and issues of women in contemporary dance edited by Susan Glazer and Sharon Friedler, The Netherlands: harwood academic publishers.

1996     “Tap Dance: Manifestation of an African Aesthetic,” published in African Dance: An Artistic, Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, edited by Kariamu Welsh Asante, Africa World Press, Inc. 

1995    “Factors That Effect Creative Dance Programs,” published in JOPERD: Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, April 1995.

1995 “Creative Dance--How to Increase Parent and Teacher Awareness,” published in JOPERD: Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, May-June 1995.

1995. “Creative Dance Education--Establishing a Positive Learning Environment,” published in JOPERD: Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, August 1995.

1992    “Rhythm Tap: The African-American Women Who Entertained,” published in SAGE Scholarly Journal on Black Women,  Fall 1992, SAGE Women's Educational Press, Inc.           

1991    “Cultural Aesthetics in Dance: A Means of Human Understanding,” published in Proceedings of the 1991 Conference of Dance and The Child: International, edited by Susan W. Stinson.

1991 Tap Dance: Memories and Issues of African-American Women Who Performed Between 1930 and 1950, Dissertation Title, Dance Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

Screenwriting Awards

(See Screenwriting)

​