Home: Windsor, CA. Age: In my forties. Profession: Dance educator, professor, mentor. Title: Professor. Pronouns: She/Her/Hers. Significant other: Jeff Hillman. Alma mater: Mills College (MFA in dance); School of Music and Dance at SFSU.
Current project: Website design and new certificate under the career education umbrella: Dance Teaching Certificate. Recent professional development: Enrollment Academy, University of San Diego. Latest accomplishment: Increasing clientele at Tasting Notes Winery. Latest contribution to others: Letting a student shadowing me at Tasting Notes weekly to help completing her senior project. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Moving towards administration in my career field. Hobbies: Organizing my home, journaling, bike rides, live music. Recent travel or adventure: Virgin Cruise lines to the Caribbean.
How do you define a perfect friendship? With you during the difficult times. What is your greatest joy? Being married to my darling husband for thirteen years. What is your greatest fear? Losing him. What is your guilty pleasure? Middle-of-the-night snacking: PBJ, quesadilla, or toast. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Middle school teachers. What is at the top of your bucket list? Study the dance forms Flamenco, Capoeira, and dances of the African Diaspora. How do you relieve stress? Hot tub, walks with Captain, talks with siblings, lunch with friends, yoga, and prayer. What is your go-to workout? Dance, dance, dance! Forty-four years of dancing!
What was your favorite college course? Psychology of Sleep and Dreams. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? Wendy Diamond, my ballet teacher at the School of Music and Dance at SFSU. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Keep moving, and the demons won’t get you. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Don’t burn bridges in the dance world. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? Old videos of great choreographers and artists. What company or organization do you most admire? Complexions Dance Company. What world event has had the greatest influence on your life? 9/11 and George Floyd.
What is your big idea?
Education should not be trophy based.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Inclusion, open dialogue about multiracial/cultural and nonbinary importance in the dance world. What message do you want to send out into the world? Love thy neighbour, even if they’re an old curmudgeon and grumpy. What widely held belief do you reject? The belief that restricting access to abortion benefits women or strengthens society is misguided.
Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? Dr. Katherine Dunham or Pearl Primus. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A teacher, always a teacher. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? My grandmother’s brooch. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? Cuddling with my husband, cooking for my parents, siblings, and family. What advice would you give your younger self? Brush it off. When someone comes after you with insults, pretend you don’t hear them, brush it off, and don’t react. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? The day I met with Dr. Chong, the President of SRJC. What period in your life would you do differently, if you could? The last ten years of my career.
Personal mission: Guiding the next generation to be successful upstanding, hardworking, and honest citizens. Personal motto: This too shall pass. I am blessed. Favorite quote: “Go ahead, make my day” (Clint Eastwood). Desired epitaph: Here lies Casandra - the energy in our group will never be the same.
