Coker College's Gallo receives statewide honor

Coker College Associate Professor of Dance Angela M. Gallo received the South Carolina Dance Association’s Honor Award, the highest award given by the South Carolina Alliance for Health Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, at the Alliance’s annual conference and exposition held in Myrtle Beach, S.C., last week.

“It was a personal privilege for me to see Angela receive this award,” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt.  “She epitomizes the commitment to excellence and the spirit of service that have become signature characteristics of Coker College faculty.  We could not be more proud of this singular achievement.”

“The Honor Award was given to Angela, in large part, because she serves as such an outstanding role model for students, clients and the professionals of the Association through her 10 years of membership,” said Katy Dallas, who chairs the Honors and Awards Committee for the South Carolina Dance Association.

Criteria for the award include service to the South Carolina Alliance, pioneering leadership in the profession, meritorious service to allied fields, public and professional presentations, and community service. 

Gallo serves as the southeast regional director of the American College Dance Festival.  She is also the artistic director of Sapphire Moon Dance Company in Columbia, S.C.

She dances with the Power Company in South Carolina. She has performed in the works of Jose Limon, Doug Varone, Christian Von Howard and Dan Wagoner and performed with AmDAT: Dance Art Technology (New York). She has worked on smaller projects with Ballet Preljocaj and Anou Skan (France) and EisenhowerDance Ensemble (Michigan).

Gallo was runner-up for the South Carolina Arts Commission’s Fellowship in Dance in 2007 and has been the recipient of grants from the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties.  She has received grants from Black Creek Arts Council and South Carolina Arts Commission, including the Dance Touring Initiative Grant to bring contemporary dance to underserved communities.

Gallo has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater and dance from Central Connecticut State University and a Master of Fine Arts in dance from the University of Michigan.