MEET THE TEAM

Pierre Lockett most recently served as the Director of Community Engagement with The Joffrey Ballet where he grew its programming from ten schools in1996 to over 55 schools in 2014. After twenty years as a professional dancer, Mr. Lockett combined his passion and expertise for dance with his desire to inspire youth through invigorating dance programs. He has worked extensively with youth from Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, and various schools and studios throughout the city. He is also the recipient of numerous dance awards and has been recognized by Mayor Rham Emanuel for fostering the talent of young dancers and his commitment to bringing dance to Chicago’s many diverse communities. He is also the recipient of the 1999 Black Theatre Alliance/Ira Aldridge Award for Best Performance in a Music or Dance Program, the Princess Grace Award for Dance and has served as a panelist for The National Endowment for the Arts.

Christina Bourné is an accomplished arts administrator, educator, and performing artist based in Chicago. She began her career as a public speaker and guest soloist for women’s and youth enrichment conferences. During her career she has helped to create school programs, facilitated workshops/lectures and even concert series to discuss social/cultural issues such as race, gender equality, and collective non-violence through the lens of the arts. Her past leadership roles have been Director of Creative Engagement at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University where she grew the reach to 20,000+ per year, Interim Executive Director of Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, founding member and Program Manager for Enrich Chicago, and Assistant Director of Development for All Stars Project of Chicago. Christina is also an independent nonprofit consultant working with individuals and organizations with a focus on fundraising, board development, strategic planning, and organizational leadership and performs with her family of nine—comprised of her siblings and mother—The Bournés.

As a native of Chicago, Bradlee has been dancing since the age of 8. Having participated in Gallery 37’s Advanced Arts Program and the Exelon Strobel Step-up Program under the direction of Pierre Lockett. Her love for the art of dance coupled with her passion for empowering young people has motivated her to continue to be involved with those who have made huge differences in her life. As FMC’s Program Coordinator she works to help manage and develop all dance education programs.
Bradlee currently holds a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Studies and a Master of Applied Computer Science.

Elizabeth Looby is from Columbus, Ohio where she danced for 13 years before continuing her studies at Ohio University. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance and Choreography, along with a minor degree in Business Administration. After graduating, she moved to Washington, DC to pursue her career in arts administration, teaching, and performing. She has served as Artistic Operations Coordinator for the John F. Kennedy Center, Teaching Artist and Outreach Coordinator for Bowen McCauley Dance Company, Administrative Intern for Dance Place, and has performed with DEVIATED THEATRE. Elizabeth is now exploring the vibrant dance scene of Chicago and continuing her passion in the performing arts field. Outside of being an Administrator and Teaching Artist for Forward Momentum Chicago, she is a company dancer and Managing Assistant Director for Lawson Dance Theatre. Elizabeth is excited to be a part of Forward Momentum Chicago where she can share her love of dance to ambitious young performers across the city.

Andrea Vinson, loving known to her students as ‘Mama Andrea’, has been in the dance profession for over 25 years.  She has performed for numerous venues, which include theater, television and film.  Her present endeavors consist of being the Artistic Director of Najwa Dance Corps, Teaching Artist with the Joffrey’s Middle School Dance Club, Lead Artist with AfterSchoolMatters, and master teacher with Chicago Public School’s All City Dance Ensemble. Her teaching credits take in colleges, elementary and high school, park districts, arts organizations, dance studios, professional dance companies, and theatrical productions.  She is a dance artist whose greatest joy is working with young people.  Her fundamental belief is that the arts endow its participants to understand life in a broader spectrum.  One of her professional highlights was participating with CAPE in a 3 year project in which students were tracked on the influence of arts integrated lessons. One of her latest credits include teaching for the Ailey Camp Chicago 2010 & 2011.

Jamerial has been dancing since the age of 4. She studied the majority of her dance techniques with Najwa Dance Corps, and has now been a part of the company for 7 years as well as takes extra classes (Ballet, Jazz and Modern Graham, contemporary and Tap) with Joel Hall dance studio, M.A.D.D Rhythms and Hubbard street dance. Jamerial has performed all over the city of Chicago doing African and Tap dance.  She started to teach dance in high school and was able to teach at the Golden Dome park district on the west side of Chicago. Currently, Jamerial is in the process of earning her Associates and Bachelors degree in early childhood education.