JULIE McLEOD, founder and director of Dance Warehouse in 1979, continued it's operation in Santa Barbara for 20 years. She fostered an eclectic variety of up to 20 staff instructors in all phases and ages of dance, including: Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap (Broadway and Jazz), Improvisation, Choreography, Children's Dance, Argentine Tango, Flamenco, Afro-Cuban and Samba. Julie also brought in guest artists to teach workshops and perform in studio concerts, giving many students and artists a chance to grow and work with professionals. Dance Warehouse won the "Best Of" in both the Independent and the News Press in 1996, 1997, and again in 1998. Unfortunately, after two decades of nurturing Santa Barbara dance Julie lost her lease. However, she continues to teach ballet and Improv/Choreography and foster Argentine Tango classes through the City of Santa Barbara. Teachers, guest artists, and artists she has produced include: Stephanie Gilliland, Tina Gerstler, Kai Ganado, Lula Washington, Bill Evans, Albert Reid, Molissa Fenley, Loretta Livingston, Jean Isaacs, Rudy Perez, Nancy Colahan, Martina Young, Donald Byrd, Nora Reynolds, Simone Forti, Tim Wengart, Creach & Koester, Billy Zeigenfeld and Jeannie Hill, George Zoritch, Anne Marie De Angelo and many others.

Most recently Julie produced "Tango Vivo!," an offshoot of Broadway's "Forever Tango," and continues to sponsor Argentine Tango classes and guest artists from Argentina. Julie is also producing of the 4th Annual Teen Choreographers Showcase for S. B. Dance Alliance at the Lobero Theatre, a program using mentors to develop young choreographers. Also coming will be Julie's 6th annual Labor Day Tap Away, a 4 day weekend of over 30 classes, and a Tap Jam performance with jazz musicians. Previous Tap Jams have included Master Tappers, Sam Weber, Mark Mendonca, Fred Strickler, Lynn Dally, and Christy Wyant-Hernandez.

Julie founded "Improv, Inc", Santa Barbara's improvisational dance company, which has performed in theaters, museums and environmentally for 10 years. The company has been seen in Glendale, Los Angeles, San Diego, Lompoc and Santa Maria and collaborated with many California musicians, choreographers, composers, and artists. "Improv Inc," also produces a yearly garden event at select Montecito estates called, "Woodland Jam" in collaboration with garden designer Isabelle Greene, musicians, exotic birds and gourmet food.

Julie sat on Santa Barbara City Art Committees for the last 20 years, and is a founding board member and Vice President of Santa Barbara Dance Alliance. She wrote dance criticism for the Santa Barbara News Press for 18 years, and has published nationally in Dance Magazine, and Dance Teacher Now. She was awarded Santa Barbara Dance Alliance's first "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 1996 for her contribution to dance in Santa Barbara, and is currently developing "Art Without Limits," in collaboration with Devereux; a new non-profit home for the arts with performing spaces for drama, music, visual arts and dance. She is an honorary board member of SummerDance, Santa Barbara and has choreographed musicals and concert pieces locally.

Julie began her dance career at 3 years of age, taking her first classes with her aunt, Merle Marsicano, and has trained with some of the greats: Bella Lewitzky, Lester Horton, and Carmelita Maracci in Los Angeles. As a scholarship and Honors student at Juilliard, in New York, she studied with Martha Graham, Jose Limon, Louis Horst, Doris Humphrey, and Anthony Tudor. She worked with Jerome Robbins in the original Broadway production of "Westside Story", toured with Yul Brynner in "King & I", and has performed and choreographed off Broadway, on TV, summer stock, night clubs and USO tours.

QUOTES FOR THE PROFILE

Julie has contributed to the arts in Santa Barbara for 25 years, including a decade of service with City Arts Advisory Committees.

"I am delighted the City has been able to provide my Dance Warehouse instructors and students with a place to continue their classes. I believe the City should be a strong supporter of the arts for both adults and children. When people connect with their creative and expressive sides, they are more apt to be involved with their communities. That is one of the reasons we have a quality place to live" She continues, "The studios at the Carrillo Recreation Center are great to work in. They are light and airy and the wooden floors have a nice give. I really appreciate getting such great support so we can create, learn, and dance, dance, dance."