Staff Bios
Angela Nicole Harris - Executive Artistic Director
Dance Canvas was conceived and developed by Angela Harris, who serves as Executive/Artistic Director and brings over 10 years of professional dance experience to the company. Ms. Harris conceived and founded Dance Canvas after witnessing the difficult path and lack of professional opportunities for young choreographers. Ms. Harris has been instrumental in developing youth dance and career development programs for the City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Grammy award winning recording artist, Usher’s New Look Foundation, and the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation. She has forged innovative partnerships with the Atlanta Ballet, Atlantic Station, The Atlanta Opera, and Kennesaw State University, and has been a catalyst and resource for numerous new dance organizations throughout metro Atlanta. She is a member of Emerging Arts Leaders of Atlanta, and has been an “Emerging Leader” scholarship recipient from Americans for the Arts in 2006, 2008, and 2010.
Additionally, Ms. Harris, herself, is a choreographer and dancer originally from Baltimore, MD, and a graduate of The Baltimore School for the Arts. Ms. Harris received her dance training at Dance Theater of Harlem, School of the Hartford Ballet, and The Eglevsky Ballet. She attended Mercyhurst College and City College of New York, earning a B.A. in Journalism, while on full ballet scholarship at Steps on Broadway in NYC. Ms. Harris danced corps de ballet and soloist rolls with The Georgia Ballet, Columbia City Ballet, Ballet Savannah and Urban Ballet Theater in NYC. Besides dance, Ms. Harris’ Atlanta theatre performance credits include Sophisticated Ladies and Degas’ Little Dancer (u/s) at the Tony award-winning Alliance Theatre, as well as Camelot, Guys & Dolls, Chicago and Annie Get Your Gun at the Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville, Georgia. In 2009, Ms. Harris was selected by Jasmine Guy to be a soloist dancer in her “Daughters of Alpha” production in New Orleans.
In addition to performing, Ms. Harris’ choreography has been presented by The Georgia Ballet, Dance Canvas, Ballet Dalton, Savannah Arts Academy, Dekalb School for the Arts, and in two New York City premieres at Steps on Broadway. She has been a master class instructor and guest artist at many dance institutions across the county, including University of New Mexico, Dozier Center for the Arts, The Georgia Ballet and the Keshet Dance Company in New Mexico. Ms. Harris was the Ballet Director at The Studio Atlanta Dance from 2002 – 2010, and is currently on faculty at Academy of Ballet in Norcross, GA and the Dekalb School for the Arts.
Dana Woodruff - Production/Assist. Program Director
Dana Woodruff, Production Coordinator/Assistant Program Director (DC NEXT), studied Ballet, Modern, and Jazz at Darmouth College in Vermont. She danced with the Hopkins Center Youth Ballet and attended Adelphi University, where she received her B.F.A. in Dance. Ms. Woodruff went on to earn a M.F.A. from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. She danced professionally in New York and taught at several schools in New York and Connecticut. Upon moving to Atlanta, Ms. Woodruff joined the faculty of The Studio Atlanta Dance, where she has been the pre-professional ballet and modern instuctor for the past 9 years. This summer she joined the faculty/staff of Dance Canvas' youth program, DC NEXT, where she served as Assistant Program Director and taught ballet and composition classes. Ms. Woodruff joins Dance Canvas' 2010 Season as Production Coordinator and Stage Manager.
Micki Weiner - Production Coordinator/NYC liason
Micki Weiner, Production Coordinator, is an instrumental part of the Dance Canvas organization. Ms. Weiner has danced professionally with the New York Theatre Ballet and ASEID Contemporary Dance Company, both located in NYC; as well as The Georgia Ballet and Richmond Ballet. Ms. Weiner spent a summer abroad in Italy, with New York University, studying modern dance with Duglass Dunn. She has also trained with Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Boston Ballet and The National Ballet School of Canada. In addition, Ms. Weiner has choreographed works for New York Theatre Ballet, The Georgia Ballet, The Georgia Ballet School, Georgia State University and for several dance studios in Georgia. Ms. Weiner produced a choreography workshop, entitled InMotion, for The Georgia Ballet for three seasons, and served as co-chair for "Artists for Humanity," a benefit performance and silent auction. Ms. Weiner was also part of the pilot faculty for The Georgia Ballet’s arts outreach program, “Momentum.” Ms. Weiner was also seen in the Aurora Theatre's production of Camelot. Currently, Ms. Weiner resides in NYC, where she serves as Dance Canvas’ NYC choreography liaison, opening many additional doors for the choreographers of Dance Canvas.