// Staff & Artists Bios
Chris Blunden
Co-Director
Chris Blunden has a combined 20 years experience in management and program direction. With over 40 nonprofit management trainings under his belt, he is a proficient leader in the nonprofit sector. Following his graduation from William Tyndale College, Chris worked in youth programming and community development for two years. Recognizing the need for quality arts experiences for youth in Southwest Detroit, Chris founded Living Arts in 2002, as an expansion of a small dance program formed by his wife Christine Blunden in September, 1999. To date, Chris has grown Living Arts to include six program tracks, employing five part-time staff, developed thriving partnerships with many local agencies, and has engaged over 40 local artists in the work of Living Arts.
With four years study in the Fine & Performing Arts Department at Wayne State University and a Certificate in Graphic Design from College for Creative Studies, Chris also works as a freelance graphic designer and photographer. Chris lives in Southwest Detroit with his wife Christine and their two children.
Cara Graninger
Co-Director
Cara Graninger is serving as Director of Programs for Living Arts, overseeing Southwest Dance classes, El Arte in-school arts-infused education, and related programs. Her previous administrative experience includes directing the Holy Redeemer Arts and Cultural Center for two years, managing programs at El Arte Alliance for ten years, and then directing El Arte Alliance for two years until it became the arts-infused education division of Living Arts. Cara has trained teachers and artists in how to use dance to teach core curricular subjects, drawing on her experience as a teaching artist with El Arte, Matrix Theatre and Project Paradigm in the Detroit and Hamtramck public schools. Her main art form is improvisational dance, including DanceAbility with groups including differently-abled dancers. Cara has worked and lived in Southwest Detroit since 1992.
Beth Perry
Administrative Assistant
Beth Perry earned her MA in American Dance Studies from Florida State University and her BA in History with a Specialization in Dance from Michigan State University. Since receiving her Masters, she has taught ballet history at the American Ballet Theatre's summer intensive in Detroit and danced with stb dance in Men Dance Michigan. While at FSU, Ms. Perry danced in Days of Dance, Awaken and Shift an MFA Concert, represented FSU at the American College Dance Festival, and extensively researched Alwin Nikolais, the subject of her thesis. She also had the fabulous opportunity to study with Suzanne Farrell, Jowale Willa Jo Zolar, Dan Wagoner, Sheila Humphreys, Lynda Davis, and Geri Houlihan at FSU. Before attending FSU, Ms. Perry taught at several dance studios and after school programs in and around Detroit while at the same time working for the Detroit Historical Museum as a Collections Assistant. She performed for two years with MoreDances Contemporary Dance Company based in Troy, Michigan and also in Bravo, Bravo! an annual fundraiser for the Detroit Opera House. While at MSU she performed with the Dance Repertory Company, Orchesis, and in the MSU School of Music’s production of Orpheus and The Underworld. She was also on the executive board for Orchesis, the student dance group. Ms. Perry is currently working in arts education as the Program and Administrative Assistant for Living Arts, while teaching ballet at Flex Point Performing Arts Center in Farmington Hills.
Christine Blunden
Artistic Director: Southwest Dance
Christine is a trained dancer and educator well versed in the traditions of ballet, jazz, tap, and modern. Her training includes three years of scholarship study at Wayne State University, and professional instruction from Iacob Lascu, Christina Kammueller, Erica Wilson-Perkins, and Barbara Selinger. Christine has performed with the Wayne State University Dance Company, held solo roles with Taylor Ballet Americana, and has danced at the Gem Theatre and the Detroit Metropolitan Fan Club parties with the Monroe Street Dancers. She has been a member of MoreDances Contemporary Dance Company, performing in places such as the Michigan Dance Council Showcase and the Detroit Opera House. Christine has also been a guest dancer with the Detroit Dance Collective and STB Dance, both local professional modern dance companies. With STB Dance, she performed in Shawn Bible’s “Blot,” which won the “New Choreographer’s Award” at the Michigan Dance Council Showcase. She has been teaching in various studios and programs for the last 22 years, and is the founder and Artistic Director of Southwest Dance, as well as an instructor the program at Messiah Church, COMPAS, and local schools. In addition, Christine gives educational performances and serves as an artist-in-residence in the Detroit Public Schools through OmniArts in Education. Christine continues her studies in ballet, modern, and hip hop through various classes and workshops in the area.
Teaching Artists:
Omar Berrocal
New to El Arte last year, musician Omar Berrocal helped 5th grade language arts students at the Academy of the Americas engage with their Spanish language at this dual-language school. Omar is the Spanish-speaking coordinator of music and more at Out Lady Queen of Angels and also plays in the band Benny Cruz y la Buena Vida. He will be teaching in six classrooms at the Vistas Nuevas Cecil Center.
Julie Beutel
Local musician/performer Julie Beutel is a seasoned El Arte artist as well as classroom music educator. She has delighted children during the school day and after school with her lively, focused curriculum that helps them move, sing and play music while they learn language arts, math and more. She will be teaching in six classrooms at the Holy Redeemer Vistas Nuevas Center.
David Blair
Call this award-winning urban folk poet/singer/songwriter Blair. He is a NATIONAL POETRY SLAM CHAMPION who “focuses his work on the hope that rises from the ashes of despair” (Melissa Giannini, Metro Times) A talented teacher, Blair has toured the United States extensively and performed in South Africa both solo and as part of Walk & Squawk’s The Walking Project, famous for collaborative processes involving youth and adults from diverse sectors in the community. Blair’s one man show Burying the Evidence premiered to a standing room only crowd at 1515 Broadway Theater in Detroit. Blair has performed on bills with Stevie Wonder, Oscar winner Michael Moore, members of Sweet Honey in the Rock and others. Blair has performed twice with a string section of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at the Max M. Fischer Music Theater, most recently in 2007. Our middle school students love Blair for his electrifying performance, provocative and sensitive teaching, and big, big heart.
Marianne Brass
Marianne is thrilled to begin her first year as part of the Living Arts Staff. She began her dance training with Sherri Detloff at the age of three and continued her education in ballet, tap, and jazz. She furthered her technique in ballet and modern under the instructions of Janet Clayton-Reid and Susan Clayton. Marianne competed with Encore’s competition groups and also danced with student companies such as the Clayton Academy of Dance Ensemble and the Macomb Ballet Company. She was honored to travel with Joel Ruminer’s Dance Camp as a Dance Camp Kid in 2005 and continues to enjoy his staff each summer. In 2005, she joined More Dance Contemporary Dance Company as an apprentice under the artistic direction of Janet Clayton-Reid and enjoyed two more seasons as a full company member. Marianne is continuing her professional training as a dancer and teacher at Wayne State University and is looking forward to sharing her new ideas this year!
Hava Jean Delgado
Movement artist and storyteller Hava Jean is the founder and director of Project Paradigm, a dance company which branched into after-school multicultural education. She founded El Arte’s Vistas Nuevas arts-infused literacy program several years ago. She will be teaching in six classrooms at the Vistas Nuevas Cecil Center.
Jessica Gennaccaro
Jessica has over 20 years dance experience. She has been break dancing for eight years. She travels all over the U.S. for competitions. Jessica has been in movies, books, and newspapers such as MTV’s Meet the Barkers. She has been sharing her passion for the arts by teaching dance to all ages for about seven years. Jessica has also performed for local events and festivals, such as Greek Town Casino, and Movement, the Detroit electronic music festival. This will be Jessica’s fifth year teaching breakdance for Southwest Dance.
Alana Hoey
Alana Hoey is a resident of Southwest Detroit and a lifelong lover of all the arts, specifically dance and photography. Alana has been dancing for 12 years, and has been with Southwest Dance since it began nine years ago. Along with her dance classes, she has been a teacher’s assistant for the past four years. She also works with children and young adults at Genesis youth group where she runs a small group of high school girls, as well as Wildwood Ranch, and Bair Lake Bible Camp where she works and counsels during the summer. Alana will be teaching the Pre-Ballet and Creative Dance classes for five and six year-olds this year at Southwest Dance.
Erica Leija
Erica holds a bachelors degree in dance from Wayne State University. She was a member of the SWU dance company for three years participating in such events as the American College Dance Festival nationals in Washington DC and the Grand Prix Festival in Cesena, Italy. Mrs. Leija has had professional instruction from such people as Erica Wilson-Perkins, Jan Erkert, Gina Gibney, Barbara Selinger and Renee Wood, to name a few. Erica is trained in the areas of ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance. She has performed professionally with More Dances Contemporary Dance Company, Fueled & Aflame, and has held guest roles with Detroit Dance Collective. Erica has taught at many local studios and is currently on faculty at COMPAS for Living Arts.
Bobbie Lucas
Bobbie is a national trainer for Wolftrap Early Learning Through the Arts where she shares her expertise in teaching pre-literacy and other pre-school curriculum through movement, music and storytelling. She will be teaching in six classrooms at the Holy Redeemer Vistas Nuevas Center and also consulting for our teacher and parent trainings.
Rosie Madrigal
Rosie was Arthur Murray Dance Instructor and choreographer. She trained under Susy Gordon, Eddie Cahaly and Mark Brock in the late 70’s during the days of Troy, Warren and Dearborn Arthur Murray Studios. Rosie is an expert West Cost Swing, Disco, Hustle and Salsa/Mambo instructor. Rosie also runs marathons, practices yoga, tai-chi and Pilates.
Vic Spicer
Vic is an award-winning film, video and animation instructor with 25 years of audio arts and video/film production experience. He began teaching songwriting-recording for El Arte in 2007. He has expertise in both academic and professional settings, using both Mac and PC video and audio formats. As the President of Harmonie Pix in Detroit, Vic has produced and/or directed over 100 professional television commercials and programs for various clients around the country. He also assisted in the production of Aretha Franklin’s video for the film, Bobby. Vic has served many school districts and colleges in Michigan as a video/animation and songwriting/recording instructor including: Detroit Public Schools, West Bloomfield Community Schools, Dearborn Public Schools, Wayne State University and the College for Creative Studies. He has received several Telly awards, Emmys, Ace Awards, as well as, Michigan Student Film and Video Awards. Vic is our bridge to Harmonie Park recording studios, where he exposes our students to the wonders of producing their own CDs.
Benito Vasquez
Benito teaches breakdance at COMPAS for Living Arts, and he has a strong desire to help youth through the art form he loves and excels at. He knows the challenges of growing up in Southwest Detroit and wants to help local youth thrive as others helped him when he was younger.
