"We take an alternative route."
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ALANA YVONNE WALLACE (Founder/Artistic Director) was named one of the "100 Women Making a Difference" in TODAY'S CHICAGO WOMAN magazine (1997). She boasts of being a Columbia College alum with a BFA degree in Theater/Music (1985) and has been performing since childhood. Wallace works to expand the concept of what dance IS and WHO can be involved. She has found that the wheelchair is an accessory that affords her a unique opportunity to embrace and express dance. Alana has been featured in collaborative dance pieces with renowned companies such as Mikhail Baryshnikov's White Oak Dance Project, The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Bryant Ballet, The Chicago Moving Company and MOMENTA. Most recently, she was the lead coordinator for the Bodies of Work: The Chicago Festival of Disability Arts and Culture opening celebration performance on April 20, 2006. The work featured 16 of "Chicago's Finest" professional artists with and without disabilities. She is a teaching artist with ArtsConnect, lectures and performs across the country, and strives to emphasize the talents and abilities of performers with disabilities. |
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ANGELA ALLYN (Dancer) is a mother, poet, performance artist and teacher. As the Director of the Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center at Little City Foundation from 1998 to 2001, she helped launch a virtual art gallery and a low wattage radio station and creating “Have Art Will Travel,” a model mobile arts program that took arts programs to other institutions serving people with disabilities. Currently she serves as the Cultural Arts Coordinator for the City of Evanston. |
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SHARMAN GOODS (Rehearsal Coach and Understudy) has a M.A. degree in Dance (University of Illinois) and a B.A. in Physical Education, Health and Safety. She performed in Duke Ellington’s Sacred Mass, which inspired her to continue choreographing and dancing in the liturgical and praise dance field. She recently was included in Who’s Who Among American Teachers, 2004-2005. |
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GINGER SPEIGEL LANE (Choreographer/Dancer) began her dance training with Edna McRae and Stone-Camryn in Chicago. She has performed, taught and choreographed in the Chicago area for many years. She has been a member of Dance>Detour since 1997, and along with other Dance>Detour company members, had the privilege to perform in a collaborative work with The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. More recently she has enjoyed creating two pieces for MOMENTA. In 2000, she was named one of the "100 Women Making a Difference" in Today's Chicago Woman. |
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MARIA LANIER (Choreographer/Former Company Dancer) has performed and studied dance internationally. For 20 years, she has been Assistant Director and Ballet Department Head at Mayfair Academy of Fine Arts – the largest African American Dance School in Chicago. She is also Artistic Director of the Mayfair Performing Company and Competition Team. During the last 10 years, Lanier has been lead choreographer for the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Annual Beautillion. She has been with Dance>Detour since its inception in 1995. |
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DELIA TYSON (Dancer) has 30+ years of dance experience which includes teaching Katherine Dunham technique. She has been a member of Dance>Detour since 1998. Her many professional credits include the unveiling of the Kwanzaa stamp (Los Angeles), Najwa Dance Corps (Chicago), ETA Theater’s “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” Muntu Dance Theatre and Khalidah’s North African Dance Experience. |
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LORI VINSON (Dancer) has studied ballet and modern dance since the age of 12, with among others, Joel Hall, Joseph Holmes, Elaine McLaurin and Vanessa Truvillion. Vinson has been a company member of Dance>Detour since 1999. As a certified fitness instructor, she specializes in Pilates and Yoga. Lori meets her challenge of having a visual disability by embracing her spirituality and be expressing herself through dance. |
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HEATHER WARE (Dancer) is an original company member of Dance>Detour, has studied dance and performed professionally since 1994. Her credits include Cantilever Network’s “To Be Young, Gifted and Black.” Heather is also a company member of D.I.A..L. (Dance is a Language) outreach program with the Joel Hall Dance Center. She teaches dance at Mayfair Academy of Fine Arts and plans to continue dancing and teaching throughout her career. |
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