With over 30 years experience, I know I was called to educate and ultimately transform people’s lives through dance. My dance instruction and expertise creates an environment of healing and function in place of the chaos and dysfunction that once abound. This reality, coupled with my unique way of addressing the issues that children, young people, and women tend to face inspired the creation of I DANCE BECAUSE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to dance and dance movement and the emotional healing aspects of dance. In May of 2000, I was invited to the White House to speak at a conference titled Raising Responsible and Resourceful Youth. I spoke on the impact of dance education in the lives of my students. My publications include: an article in the International Journal of AAHPERD titled Mourning Into Dancing – The Transformation of Lives: A personal Journey, I DANCE BECAUSE…, a collection of stories, essays and poems about dance, DANCING MY PRAYERS, a guide to movement and prayer. In 1998 I was selected to be in Who’s Who Among American Teachers. I served as the director of the St. James AME Church Dance Ministry for over 10 years. I lead workshops and PD’s in health and wellness, Liturgical dance, teaching strategies, curriculum development, portfolio assessment and dance history. I am interested in researching the relationship between sacred and secular dance in urban communities. Armed with a teacher's heart, I believe all teaching spaces should be filled with love, joy, and embodiment. Specialties: