Wings To Fly "HOPE"

The world-class performances of the Wings to Fly Dance Company have become legendary with audiences enthralled by the passion, energy and sincerity of each performer as they seamlessly deliver a unique dance vocabulary rich with artistic excellence. Offering the best in thematic dance is Martin County’s best-kept secret – Wings To Fly Dance Company (WTFDC)! Life experiences plus cultural and spiritual influences inspire the artistic directors to create an unforgettable experience. Integrating dancers with and without disabilities, their illuminating work is noted for answering the hopes of many who dream of performing and achieving their ultimate passion.

Their new show, HOPE (2019), will reveal how important faith, attitude and perseverance are in manifesting desired outcomes in one’s life or in the lives of many. What do you HOPE for? The diversity of responses to that question is the underlying fabric for this show, with music carefully crafted to thread each scene into a masterpiece of movement.

The sultry scintillating moves of guest artist Ana Bolt-Turrall will again ignite the stage for HOPE (2019). Ana is a consummate artist and mentor; her bio could fill this program! She is a certified K-12 dance, physical education and theatre educator, and also certified to teach Polestar Pilates CPT and PMA. Ana has spent a lifetime refining her craft and combining the art of dance and fitness with her heart for service. Through her own The Bolt Movement, she is enabling adult dancers/artists to share their life’s stories through movement. Many of her students have gone on to Juilliard, Ailey, New World School of the Arts (Miami), Boston Conservatory, FSU, Broadway Theater Project and NYU Tisch.

Returning for encore performances, our special guest singing artists for HOPE (2019) include noted singer and actress Karin Leone. A music theater veteran and Stuart native, Ms. Leone spent 8 years performing nationally, receiving numerous nominations for Best Actress in a Musical. Locally she has stared in the rock musical Next to Normal, StarStruck's production of Gypsy and was a star in Artists for a Cause’s Singing with the Stars. Like Karin, another Stuart native, Charles Douglas Jones, Jr. is well known to the local music community having sung with many musical groups and the national anthem at sporting events. Charles and Karen delivered don’t-miss performances in HOPE (2018) and WTFDC is thrilled to showcase these two dynamic singers once again!

Additional guest performances include the percussion of Grammy-nominee Michael Moses, the captivating song and dance of Chris and Jeanette Mazzella, and the hip-hop expertise of Tom Ciaramitaro and Jake Schoonmaker from Aerial Elite.

Joining the WTFDC dancers will be 5 performers that rely on wheelchairs for mobility and appearing on stage for excitement!! Alex, Casey, JP, and Mia and a to-be-announced new cast member are determined courageous performers that are a joy to experience.

The ARC of St. Lucie County and the ARC of Martin County will each feature several talented performers including Lyman Bell, Calvin Fuller, Steven Kramer, Nick Muniz, Larissa Wademan and Babette Williams. Bonnie Howard will also be performing! HOPE 2019 offers something for everyone – that’s what makes Wings To Fly shows such loved experiences!

Veteran WTFDC dancers Tara Anstensen, Kaileigh Bates, Mikayla Bradford, Amanda Irwin, Jennifer Lopp, Lisa Mie, Joneik Molyneaux, Tena Patterson, and Mary Weeks, invite our newest dancer to join the company, Riley Brown. Guest dancers from South Florida Dance Company include Brian Spector (owner), Gavin Carr, Hannah Mae Dugmore, Caitlyn Fred, Angel Tamayo and Sara Todd.

Under the artistic direction and choreography of Tasha Patterson Shirley, WTFDC dancers and guests have graced the stages of the Treasure Coast for many years. Their critically acclaimed shows include Quest (2010, 2011), Time (2012), Life (2013), Journey (2016) and Hope (2018). Tasha lived in Japan and performed with Madonna, Christopher Cross, Diana Ross, and Earth Wind & Fire. Choreography work spans 28 years and includes shows like Guys and Dolls and the Rocky Horror Picture Show and she’s worked on many music videos. She created events for Budweiser, Coca Cola, Toyota, MAC Makeup, Prada, Sony, and Virgin Cinemas and did commercials for Sony, Pizza Hut, Swatch, and Suzuki. Tasha’s passion to help create a peaceful and compassionate world permeates all that she does.

Tasha’s sister Tara Anstensen is the company’s assistant director & choreographer and also dances. Tara developed a special tandem harness to enable Kaileigh to move with Mia about the stage – a very special scene in the show. Employed for over 15 years as a Physical Therapy Assistant by our presenting sponsor, the Martin Health System, she has received numerous accolades for her exemplary and extraordinary care of her patients including a feature in their 2017 Annual Report. She worked with individuals with disabilities at the Arc of St. Lucie County for over 11 years. Her professional background as a dancer includes working with Princess Cruises, performing with Diana Ross, C & C Music Factory and Cyndi Lauper. Tara has a sincere appreciation for creativity and exploration of music and movement and shares that love with all her students. She has taught at South Florida Dance Company, Dance Academy of Stuart, Ballet Florida, and Palm Beach Ballet Company.

Founding Director, Tena Patterson has an impressive background as a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer in Canada and the United States. She is trained and has taught ballet, modern, jazz, tap, Russian folk dance and musical comedy at the Royal Academy. She formed the Florida Performing and Visual Arts Program for persons with disabilities through the Arc of St. Lucie County. Tena believes that everyone should have the opportunity to perform and continues to work towards this goal. Tena also writes children's books. Tena, now over 70, still dances with Wings to Fly and often shows the dancers how it's done!

As a non-profit company, WTFDC has sponsorships available at www.WTFDC.org - Please support the joy we bring, the lives we lift!