Barbara McAlister grew up skidding knees first across sports courts and jamming for joy to Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda videos in turquoise tights. She took her first studio dance classes while completing a self-designed BA in Ethnomusicology at Mount Holyoke College in her home state of Massachusetts. This spring Barbara graduated with her MFA in Dance from Texas Woman's University in Denton, TX, where she created works for screen, stage, and site. Her thesis work, grounded in children's games and sport movement as a basis for dancemaking, explored the question When are we not dancing? This fall she will be continuing outside research in artist entrepreneurship through a generous grant from the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership. Barbara is beyond stoked to be on team Monica Bill Barnes & Company for the 2022 American Dance Festival edition of The Running Show. See you in the arena!