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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, 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. Amy has continued to share her love of dance by teaching ballet classes to all ages. |
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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. |
