Expertise

Movement/Dance

Creative Dance for Young Children

Benefits of Movement for Children

Integrating Movement into Early Childhood Curriculum

Dance as an Important Tool for Early Literacy

Biography

Graduate of Denison University with a MFA in dance for the University of Michigan.

Professional performer in ballet and contemporary dance companies in the US, Venezuela, & Guatemala.

A dance educator, teaching dance to all ages.

Draws on a career as a performer and dance educator in writings so teachers, parents, and caregivers can offer children the gift of movement.

Author of articles, verses, books for teachers about using dance as a tool for early literacy, and three picture books.

Enjoys connecting with children and adults by visiting schools, libraries, and book festivals, and presenting workshops about movement to early childhood professionals

Speaking Experience

*World Read Aloud Day, February 2024 and 2025: I have led virtual events for schools in Texas, New York, and New Jersey

*December, 2024: Books in Homes USA: Virtual Event in Mt. Markham Schools, NY

*School, library, books festival, and bookstore interactive story times, 2006 to present Dance the Alphabet, Kids & Company, Toronto Canada, Zoom event for young children, May, 2020

*LADD Cincinnati, (Living Alternatives for Developmentally Disabled) February, 2020 *Ronald McDonald House, Cincinnati, Ohio (story time and dance activity in conjunction with the Books by the Banks Festival), December, 2019

*Community celebration of Global Water Dances Day (Assistant Director of event), July 2013 and 2015, on the banks of the Ohio River, Cincinnati, OH Final: Examples of Conferences:

*Keynote Speaker, Southeast Michigan United Way Early Childhood Conference, August, 2020

*National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) presenter, 2007 - present (Nashville, Chicago, Dallas, Washington DC, Orlando, Atlanta)

Publishing History



BEASTIE JAMBOREE (Picture Book, Young Dragons Press, 2023)

TAP AND RAP, MOVE AND GROOVE (Picture Book, Free Spirit Publishing, 2023)

FROM A TO Z WITH ENERGY! (Picture Book, Free Spirit Publishing, 2019)

ONE, TWO, WHAT CAN I DO? Dance and Music for the Whole Day (Redleaf Press, 2011)



DANCE, TURN, HOP, LEARN! Enriching Movement Activities for Preschoolers (Redleaf Press, 2006)

Awards

TAP AND RAP, MOVE AND GROOVE:

Colorado Authors League Awards:

Illustration & Book Cover Design

2024 Purple Dragonfly:

First Place — Arts/Music

2024 NYC Big Book Awards:

Winner 

Moonbeam 2023

Children’s Book Award:

Bronze Medal

2022 NYC Big Book Awards:

Distinguished Favorite

Story Monsters Approved:

Winner