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Fran Spector Atkins is the Artistic Director of SPECTORDANCE. Her mission is to heighten awareness of contemporary dance through education and performance. Spector Atkins promotes this mission though a variety of programs including the School, Company, Community Outreach, Creative Projects, and The Emerging Choreographers Showcase. Academically, her credits include a B. S. in Occupational Therapy from Boston University, an M.F.A. from Mills College in Dance and Choreography and Certification in Laban Movement Analysis from the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (New York City). She began her professional career in New York City where she performed with the Incredible Journey Dance Company and the Mariko Sanjo Dance Company. Since 1977, she has been an independent teacher and choreographer. She directed her own schools in NYC, Cleveland, and Monterey. She has been invited to guest teach, choreograph and perform throughout the United States and abroad. Some of her outstanding experiences include guest teaching and presenting her choreography at Oberlin College, Brown University and in Denmark, Egypt, England, Israel, the Island of Guam and Taiwan. Spector Atkins collaborates with William Roden, media specialist, to develop works that blend dance, live music, spoken word and visual technology. Their projects expand knowledge and awareness of our community and our world, engage diverse audiences through subject choice, increase reach through film and TV, and highlight outreach for underserved audiences. Spector Atkins is acknowledged locally and beyond. In November 2006, Fran was featured in Carmel Magazine as one of 10 individuals making “altruistic contributions to the community.” In January 2007, SpectorDance was honored by The Arts Council for Monterey County as the Outstanding Arts Organization in Monterey County. In January 2007, she received funding from The Community Foundation for Monterey County to attend the Arts Presenters Conference in New York City. In February 2008, SpectorDance was selected as a finalist for the Ovations TV award for “Excellence in the Performing Arts.” Fran is working as teacher, choreographer and presenter to promote dance as a vibrant art form that can express all aspects of the human spirit as a force for positive change and growth in community and to establish Monterey County as a new West Coast Center for contemporary dance. |
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Amy Byington began her dance training (ballet, jazz, modern, character and tap) at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas. She has performed with the Clear Lake Metropolitan Ballet and Galveston Ballet, dancing various roles in The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake (Act II), Giselle and Don Quixote. Amy has studied under Leo Ahonen, Soli Arvola, Keith Cross, Luis Fuente, Myrta George, Lynette Mason, Richard Munro, and Beverly Williams; and has worked with choreographers Amalie Hunter and Olga Kostritsky. In 1994, Amy received a scholarship to study at the Joffery Ballet School and Broadway Dance Center in New York. She continues to share her love of dance by teaching ballet classes to all ages. Amy has taught at SpectorDance since 2007 and in 2009 she took the role of Assistant School Director. Amy also has a Master of Science in Marine Science and pursues her passion of science by working as a senior analyst and research technician at the Marine Pollution Studies Laboratory at Moss Landing Maine Laboratories. |
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Karen Cook, licensed Acupuncturist, certified yoga teacher and dancer has over 25 years in the movement arts, Her primary teachers have been Thomas Michael Fortel and Fran Spector Atkins. Karen invites all to experience the joy and peace in her Yoga classes. |
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Stephanie Waldrip (Stephanie Gable – Stage Name)… A gifted stage performer with a talent for engaging her audience, Stephanie Gable is known for critically acclaimed roles that range from Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd to Mama Rose in Gypsy, from the lead in Hello Dolly! to the comedic Miss Hannigan in Annie. With a warmth and energy that transcends her remarkable stage presence and the ability to make that “connection” with her audience, Stephanie utilitizes a full range of acting experience and training while performing standards to opera… jazz to musical theatre. Her honesty and love of her craft rings true to the listener. She considers performing for her audiences a great joy and honor! As a drama and musical theatre instructor, Stephanie’s greatest honor is passing along her experience and passion for performance to her students. “It’s the greatest joy of all!” Stephanie is a member of the Actor’s Equity Association and Screen Actor’s Guild. |
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Alexandra Gardner is a dancer and choreographer and Pilates teacher. She is currently performing with the SpectorDance Company. She started dance training for “fun” at age 4, but dance soon turned into a serious passion. She competed until age 18. She now teaches and choreographs throughout the Bay Area, Santa Cruz and Marina. Her goal is to pass on her passion for dance as her first teacher, Sioux Lehner, did for her. She is working to develop dance is a wide variety of styles of all ages. |
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Laurel Nelson was born and raised an hour from Los Angeles. She has trained and performed for years in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, acting, musical theater and Polynesian. Master classes and workshops she has participated in include: The Rockettes, State Street Ballet, and CalArts. She is currently finishing her Bachelors in Kinesiology and Wellness with high honors and plans to continue education in dance science. Laurel is also working on her yoga certification in Vinyasa flow, dances in the SpectorDance Company, and is the administrative assistant here at SpectorDance. She hopes to become a college level dance, yoga and kinesiology teacher/researcher but also has interest in healthcare. |
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Alexa Stevens has trained for 10 years in all styles of dance, specializing in Jazz, Musical Theater, Tap, and Contemporary. She has trained with many highly acclaimed choreographers, receiving numerous dance scholarships and performance awards on a national level, and was awarded a tap scholarship from Jason Samuels Smith, Emmy-winning tap performer/choreographer. As the current title-holder Miss Teen Bravo for the Bay Area region, Alexa was awarded a dancewear sponsorship from BodyWrappers for Overall Excellence in Entertainment. Alexa has taught tap and jazz classes for 2 years at SpectorDance. |
