Age : 58

Residence : Point Breeze

Family : Husband, Eric; daughters, Meagan, 24, and Caitlin, 22

Occupation : University of Pittsburgh dance educator

Education : Bachelor’s degree in dance performance, University of Utah, 1974; master’s degree in education, University of Pittsburgh, 1976

Background : Gillis-Kruman has taught dance at Pitt for 33 years. Among other duties, she advises the Dance Ensemble, a university dance-performance group, and coordinates the dance minor program, where she teaches dance, dance-related courses and yoga in the undergraduate program.

Noteworthy : The Arts Education Collaborative recently appointed Gillis-Kruman to a three-year term on its advisory council. The group is dedicated to strengthening education by making the arts central to learning through collaboration, research and advocacy.

Quote : “I’m excited because (the collaborative) wants to work on a dance project where we can show teachers how to incorporate dance into the curriculum. We need dance as an art form. I can’t think of any other art form that children enjoy more than dance. … The boys will do the regular sports, but most girls just want to dance. Why shouldn’t all students get a chance to do that?”

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