About the Directors
Carla Perlo
is the founder, visionary leader and
Executive/Artistic Director of Dance Place, one of the nation's
foremost presenters of dance. Ms. Perlo's work at Dance Place
has been vital to the development and support of a growing dance
community in Washington, DC since 1980. The D.C. Commission on
the Arts and Humanities recognized Dance Place's contributions
for "excellence in service to the arts" with the Mayor's Art Award
in 1986. As a dancer, choreographer and teacher, Ms. Perlo has
had an active career for over twenty-five years. As a solo performer,
artistic director of Perlo/Bloom and Company and most recently
of Carla & Company, Ms. Perlo continues to teach dance and
lecture at universities, colleges and community centers throughout
the region including American University, George Mason University,
George Washington University and Montgomery College.
Ms. Perlo serves the field of dance regionally and as a panelist,
lecturer, and arts consultant. She has worked with the National
Endowment for the Arts, the Maryland States Arts Council, the
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation and The National Performance Network
among other organizations. From 1995-98 she served as the national
coordinator of DanceAfrica, America, an eight city consortium
of festivals presenting dance, music and culture of the African
Diaspora. Ms. Perlo has been honored with the Tony Taylor Award
for Outstanding Service to the Field of Dance presented by the
Washington, DC Cultural Alliance in 1988, the Pola Nirenska award
for outstanding contributions to dance in 1995, Washingtonian
of the Year by Washingtonian Magazine in 1997 and was recognized
as a "Hometown Hero" by WETA-TV in 2001.
Deborah Riley
has a deep commitment to furthering
Dance Place's mission in her capacity as artist-in-resident, faculty
and staff member since 1987. In her current position as Director
she assists Ms. Perlo to guide the organization in all its aspects
including artistic, managerial, programing and financial. As a
professional dancer, choreographer and teacher she has been instrumental
in the training and development of dancers since 1975 and currently
directs her own company, Deborah Riley Dance Projects which tours
regionally.
Ms. Riley also appears as a guest artist in various universities
around the country, most recently at American University. Her
work has been presented in the U.S., the U.K. and France and has
been funded in multiple years by the NEA, the D.C. Commission
on the Arts and Humanities and by the Jerome Foundation. She received
a choreographic commission by The Kennedy Center, the Pola Nirenska
award for outstanding contributions in dance and was awarded the
first Distinguished Alumni of Fine Arts award by Ohio University.
1993 she has presented performances and workshops called Moving
Affirmations at various community organizations serving women
survivors of abuse and sexual trauma. From 1978-87 she was based
in New York City where she performed and toured extensively with
Douglas Dunn & Dancers throughout the U.S. and Europe, and where
she created collaborative choreography with dancer Diane Frank.