Sara Akers - Complete Bio
Instead of learning to walk, my mother always told me, that I learned to dance – and dance I did-always around the house. My first memories are of tap classes at Texie Waterman’s studio on Walnut Hill Lane in Dallas when I was three years old. Texie went on to choreograph the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and I went to study with Toni Beck who later became the first Dance Department Chairman at SMU.
Unbeknownst to my parents, I entered my first talent show in the first grade with the dance song “Let’s twist and shout!” I started choreographing dance numbers for elementary class productions in the fourth grade at Walnut Hill Elementary. As my teachers used to say, “As soon as I got my class work done” I was free to go Mrs. McKnight’s music class where she allowed me to choreograph, direct, and perform. I continued to volunteer at Walnut Hill Elementary throughout my high school years. It was through Mrs. McKnight, Toni Beck, and watching live performance at Dallas Theatre Center that I decided what I was going to do – have a theatre – a place to create.
University of Texas/ Austin (MFA)
- Children’s Theatre and Creative Drama
- Aurand Harris Playwriting Award
- Taught on the UT faculty for two years
- Movement for the Actor and choreographed several main stage productions
Southern Methodist University (BFA)
- Cum Laude
- Dance Major/ Theatre Minor
- Delta Delta Delta Sorority
The Lamplighter School
- Dallas Texas
- Taught Creative Drama and Creative movement for 1981-1990
The Junior Players Guild
- 1982-84
- Founded the Imagnation Company underneath the umbrella of JPG
- Taught creative drama
- Toured children’s theatre productions to Dallas recreation centers
Dallas Theatre Center
- Taught and Directed youth productions
Children’s Arts and Ideas Foundation
- Assistant Program Director
- Teacher
