Meet Alison Gerardot, FWDC’s new Outreach Director!

Photo by Kelly Lynch.

Earlier this month, Outreach Director Erin Stewart left the Fort Wayne Dance Collective to pursue new ventures in Washington, DC. We wish her well, and realized that she left big shoes to fill. After a long search process with many great candidates, the FWDC board decided to hire Alison Eby Gerardot, pictured above.

Alison has been involved in the Fort Wayne dance scene her entire life.  She has studied and taught dance at numerous studios around the city and region and has choreographed for shows at IPFW as well as for the Fort Wayne Dance Collective.  Along with her knowledge of dance, she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English with minors in Dance and Communications as well as her teaching license.  Alison not only has a passion for dance but an appreciation for all arts and has close ties with local musicians and artists as well.  She looks forward to sharing her love of dance and the arts with the community through her work at FWDC. She first became involved professionally with the Fort Wayne Dance Collective when she conceived of and co-created Eaten Alive: Seven Deadly Sins, featuring the work of seven local choreographers, each creating a dance focusing on a mortal sin. All three shows were sold out, and FWDC now produces a spooky Halloween show each October. Alison will be coordinating outreach bookings and developing the program with FWDC, as well as leading the Indiana Dance Festival steering committee for April 2011.

Next time you’re in FWDC studios, stop by the office and welcome Alison, or drop her an email (alison [at] fwdc [dot] org). We are excited to have her aboard, and want her to meet as many of our friends as possible (although chances are, if you are a dancer, you already know her!).