<div><p> A weekly snapshot of creative people living in the Las Vegas Valley</p><p> Name: Vikki Baltimore-Dale, choreographer, professor</p><p>Age: 60</p><p>Education: BachelorÕs in dance education, University of Maryland; masterÕs in dance education, UNLV.</p><p>Getting into dance: ÒMy mother saw ÔThe Red ShoesÕ and loved it. She didnÕt have the money to go to dance classes so as soon as I was born and could walk, I would go to classes. She put me in everything except tap. We lived in Maryland, but she drove me to instructors in (Washington) D.C. She wanted me to be exposed. She didnÕt want me to say, ÔI never had the opportunity to experience it.Õ Ó</p><p>Choosing a career: ÒDance was there. I couldnÕt think of anything else I wanted to pursue. But in college the focus was mostly modern. There was no ballet or jazz and I couldnÕt really associate or connect. For four years I had not seen someone like myself on stage. Then one semester Alvin Ailey (dance company) came to the university. I saw them and thought, ÔThatÕs what I want to do.Õ Ó</p><p>Getting to Vegas: After college Baltimore-Dale danced with the D.C. Black Repertory Dance Company and George Faison Universal Dance Experience. She landed a role in the Broadway musical ÒBubbling Brown Sugar.Ó She also danced in the movies ÒThe WizÓ and ÒThe Blues Brothers.Ó She came to Las Vegas for a temporary gig in 1982 — filling in for an injured friend in ÒDonn ArdenÕs Jubilee!Ó</p><p>At UNLV: She teaches dance technique and a course on African-American dancers and choreographers. Her office is crammed with artwork made by non-dance students studying the history of black dancers. Baltimore-Dale connects the students with dancers by connecting them first with their own creativity, whether itÕs drawing, sculpting, painting, baking, sewing, puppetry or music. From this, sheÕs gained a museum of works, which includes paintings of Ailey, Josephine Baker and Peg Leg Bates. These are students, she says, who are studying to be accountants and engineers: ÒItÕs amazing the talent people donÕt use. ItÕs dormant and itÕs such an integral part of them. At the end of the semester IÕm gratified because I see them gratified.Ó</p><p>On choreographing: ÒThatÕs when I feel like IÕm connecting. ThereÕs a whole marriage that happens between the person watching, the performer and the choreographer. ItÕs a flow of life. The choreography is really what I love and feel. That is my mission.Ó</p><p>One of her pieces, ÒContinuum,Ó was created for the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company. The Denver-based company will perform ÒContinuumÓ Oct. 9 at UNLV.</p><p>On ÒContinuumÓ: ÒI lost my husband five years ago. ItÕs about that whole thing of having to go on, keep moving. Life starts to adjust itself in different ways, but you still have to keep moving. There are hiccups, these moments of pause, but even during the hiccups thereÕs a continuum. YouÕre working it out or trying to work it out. YouÕre moving on.Ó</p><p>Dance in Las Vegas: ÒI would like to see more dance. For dance to survive and grow there has to be a sense of unity and respect. IÕm not into supporting one thing and not another. IÕm just looking for something thatÕs going to make me inspired.Ó</p><p>Other interests: Purple. She wears purple every day. Her home is filled with purple. Her UNLV office is filled with purple items — filing cabinet, pillows, vases, paper clips, photo frames and pencil holder. She also owns four dogs (three cocker spaniels and one Pomapoo) and has five fish tanks.</p><p>Sticking around? ÒFor right now, but itÕs a continuum.Ó (She laughs.) ÒIÕm good, you know. IÕm good. Vegas has been good for me.Ó</p><p>Kristen Peterson can be reached at 259-2317 or at kristen@lasvegassun.com.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=60113919&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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