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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wendy Sosa

Wendy Sosa

Executive Director

Wendy Sosa has been involved with dance for over 40 years and has been teaching in Greeley and Northern Colorado for just over 25 years. She grew up in New Hampshire and danced for most of her adolescent years in Boston. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Colorado Dance Collective (CDC) in Greeley. She has also served as a board member for the CDC since its inception. She has witnessed the CDC ebb and flow, grow, change and improve over the last 14 years and is excited to continue on the journey. While teaching and choreography is her strong suit being an active member of the Board gives her up close looks at the very inner workings of the company, its finances, its bylaws and procedures. It is pivotal to her to understand how best to keep the CDC moving forward in all areas. Miss Wendy is honored to serve on the Board and excited to lead this amazing group of artists.

Stephanie Wilson

Stephanie Wilson

Vice Chair

Stephanie began dancing around 5 years of age after watching her older sister take up ballet classes and has been dancing nearly ever since. She continued to train and perform throughout her 20s with various companies in Northern Colorado and the Denver area, including 8th Street Contemporary Dance Company, Colorado Dance Collective, and Dream Project Dance Company. While completing her doctoral studies at Purdue University, she also had the opportunity to continue her training in modern and contemporary dance, taking classes in the Dance Program there that approached the styles through Bartenieff Fundamentals. She began her dance teaching career at Dance Starz studio in Johnstown, CO where she found her passion for sharing dance with the next generation. Stephanie taught at Dance Starz for five years, working with their competition team and earning a regional choreography award for a contemporary small group piece. While living in Indiana for her graduate work, she also taught for Studio B in Lafayette, IN where she continued to choreograph for competitive dance teams in the area. Stephanie joined the Board of Directors for the Colorado Dance Collective in 2020 and has been an active member since, despite moving out of state to AZ after finishing her PhD in Sociology. She now runs her own digital media and sociology consulting company, Applied Worldwide, with her partner where they produce content for various blogs they run and provide consulting services in digital media strategy, research, writing, and more to small businesses, non-profits, and individuals. Stephanie also teaches online courses as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Northern Colorado where she earned both her BA and MA in Sociology.

Shelley Chaney

Shelley Chaney

Secretary

Sandy Shakti Myers

Sandy Shakti Myers

Board Member

Margaux Valdez

Margaux Valdez

Board Member

I'm recently new to the board, but not to the CDC. I was a part of the tap company for CDC for almost 9 years, so the CDC has a very special place in my heart! I grew up competitively tap, clog, and Irish step dancing, so dance has always been very meaningful to me. I have loved to watch the CDC grow over the years and am very excited to now sit on the board and help that growth! Outside of dance, I work full time as a registered dietitian at a local hospital here in Greeley. I love spending time with my dog and trying out new recipes!

Ryan Roth

Ryan Roth

Board Member

Cassie Carney

Cassie Carney

Board Member

Dayna DeFilippis

Dayna DeFilippis

Chair

Dayna started dancing at the age of 6 and hasn’t stopped. The joy of movement and freedom of expression brought to her through dance called Dayna to turn passion into profession, an endeavor she continues today as the Academic Advisor and Adjunct Dance Faculty for the School of Theatre Arts & Dance at the University of Northern Colorado. Dayna comes to Greeley most recently from Winchester, VA where she worked as a full time Academic Advisor. Prior to Winchester, Dayna was the Dance Instructor and Performing Arts Coordinator at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, NV. Previously, Dayna was the Dance Director at the University of Nebraska, Kearney where she also served as resident choreographer and dedicated member of the Board of Directors for Crane River Theater Company. An active member of the National Dance Education Organization, Dayna has presented numerous research projects at national conferences and has also presented workshops at Region V of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and both the West and North Central Regional Conferences of the American College Dance Association. Notable professional endeavors include teaching with the Musical Theatre Faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lakes, MI, North Carolina Arts in Action and performing with Tobacco Road Dance Productions in Durham, NC. Dayna earned her MFA in Dance, Choreography at The University of Arizona and has taught dance in higher education for the past 8 years, working in concert dance, theatre movement, and musical theatre alike. Prior to pursuing graduate studies, Dayna worked in the industry as a teacher at private studios throughout the Chicago area and director of youth performance companies and public outreach programs; she completed both her Bachelor of Fine Arts Dance degree and Bachelor of Business Administration degree at The University of Iowa. Dayna is passionate about community engagement through dance and assisting student success in the performing arts in all avenues. She is excited to step into the role of Board Member at the CDC! When she’s not dancing, volunteering or advising, Dayna enjoys keeping up to date on all things true crime, traveling with her wife, exploring new cultures and communities through food and art, and taking their dog, Clifford, on walks through the neighborhood.

Vickki Klingman

Vickki Klingman

Treasurer

I am a wife, mother to two daughters and a grandmother pf two. I retired from the University of Northern Colorado in 2009 after a 32-year career in Dining Services and Purchasing. I have always been involved in the performing arts, primarily in instrumental music and have always loved to move to the music. However, at the age of 45, I began taking dance lessons upon the urging of the studio owner where our younger daughter danced. What a game changer that’s been for me: I am more active now than I’ve every been before and am eternally grateful that, when asked to try dancing, I said YES! I’ve taken classes in tap, jazz and ballet and am currently taking ballet classes with the CDC. I love dance for what it does for my body, mind and soul!

I have been privileged to serve on the CDC Board since its inception in 2009 and have served as Secretary and Treasurer as well as serving on the fund-raising committee. I love being a part of the CDC because I am engaged with young people…and I think they help to keep me young. The Colorado Dance Collective is an opportunity for me to promote dance and support dancers who are passionate about their craft. The CDC Board is a group of positive-minded people committed to fulfilling the dreams of those who conceived of the Collective as well as our dancers.

Alyssa Gibson

Alyssa Gibson

Board Member

I began dancing with the CDC in early 2021. Having just moved to Colorado, I was absolutely thrilled to find such an amazing space for adults of all backgrounds to dance together. I began serving on the Board that summer. I serve the Board as a general member, but also write our newsletters as well as help organize our volunteers and events. It is an absolute pleasure to serve this community of dancers and artists when they give so much to each other and the community. I greatly look forward to helping the CDC grow further every year!

Hannah Fields

Hannah Fields

Board Member

Jennifer Jurado

Jennifer Jurado

Board Member

Rena Perry

Rena Perry

Board Member

Rena Perry began her journey with creative arts as a gymnast for 16 years. Dance found me by accident. After trying several different dance studios the universe led me to discover the Dance Factory where I began ballet with Miss Wendy. I danced competitively for several years in jazz, tap, lyrical, ballet hip hop and outside of the studio as a gymnast. Into adulthood dancing was limited but my passion continued at the gym taking Zumba classes. In 2020 I became certified as a Zumba instructor where I have been able to keep that dance spark alive. This is my first opportunity to serve on the board for the CDC, giving back to the community that has fueled my fire for life for so long. Ongoing feet issues limit my ability to dance a lot myself but being a part of the CDC gives me the perfect opportunity to support and uplift those who can. As I always say, to dance is to live. Outside of dancing Rena loves to hike, go to the gym, painting, all things coffee, spending time with her cats, being with friends and traveling. Rena currently spends time working as a real estate agent and at the family business, Perry’s Vac & Sew.

ACTIVE COMMITTEES

Policies, Procedures, & Professional Development (PPPD)

Wendy Sosa, Dayna DeFilippis, Shelley Chaney

Volunteer & Event Support

Alyssa Gibson, Rena Perry, Margaux Valdez

Finance & Fundraising

Vickki Klingman, Ryan Roth

Grant Writing & Submission

Hannah Fields, Laura Ward, Vickki Klingman

Marketing & Outreach

Stephanie Wilson, Jennifer Jurado, Sandy Shakti Myers

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