I've always been fascinated with world dance—dance across all countries and cultures. Then I saw flamenco dancer Carmen Mora at UCLA. She was mesmerizing; exotic, strong yet feminine, a fierce eagle in effortless flight. I was hooked. Since then I've studied flamenco in Sevilla, Jerez de la Frontera and Madrid, Spain. Because learning never ends I continue taking ballet and flamenco classes in Los Angeles. My performance venues have included schools, libraries, arts and culture festivals, women's and fraternal clubs, senior centers, restaurants and theaters. I am an avid supporter of arts education, particularly for children. While art is sometimes minimized as simply fun, or as unnecessary embellishment, or as a way to fill spare time it serves a deeper purpose: It provides solace and a shelter during our times of sorrow and heartbreak. Currently I also volunteer as a dance teacher at CoachArt, a nonprofit organization that provides free classes of all kinds to chronically ill children and their families.