Frances Lai (Stohlman) Baca

Originally from Berkeley, California Frances has been a movement enthusiast her entire life. A participant in regional competitive swimming teams and martial arts from Pre-K on, she dabbled in gymnastics, and began her dance training at Berkeley Ballet Theater at five years old. Over the years, as her dance training became more vigorous her extra curricular physical endeavors took a back seat. In high school she was selected to perform principal roles in the annual performances of the Nutcracker and Spring Performances. She was a member of and worked as Rehearsal Assistant to the Berkeley Ballet Theater Youth Ensemble and along with other Ensemble members was invited to perform in works of Sonya Delwaide at Dance Mission and ODC/San Francisco. A summer at the Ailey School inspired her, she set a personal goal to live and dance in New York City. 

After graduating from high school Frances enrolled at the University of the Arts (Uarts) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania under the direction of Susan Glazer. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Modern Dance Performance with Honors was the recipient of the Elizabeth Ann Pulaski Memorial Scholarship and received an award for "Outstanding Performance in Modern Dance." While studying at Uarts Frances had the honor of performing the works of Fernando Bujones, Roni Koresh, Brian Sanders, Christopher Huggins, Faye Snow, Rachel Berman, Curt Haworth, Silvana Cardell and Myriam Herv-Gil. It is with great pride that Frances acknowledges that the versatility she is known for was largely developed at Uarts through the curriculum, faculty and her peers. 

The day after commencement Frances moved to New York City where she has performed professionally for years since. She has also presented her own choreography in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. While achieving her dance objectives Frances also became a certified Pilates Instructor and Instructor Trainer, a GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® Trainer and has worked in the fitness industry for almost ten years. 

Frances received a Master of Fine Arts in Dance at New York University Tisch School of Performing Arts. Where she was honored to have been selected to perform in Bill T Jones "Ravel: Landscape or Portrait", a Cunningham MinEvent staged by Rashaun Mitchell and an original work by Deborah Jowitt. 

Ms Baca has sought out ways to enhance her dance practice through pedagogy courses. She has completed the Lester Horton Teacher Workshops conducted at the Ailey School and the Limón Workshop for Teachers-Teaching Contemporary Limón. Frances Lai Baca is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.

Frances enjoys teaching dance to all ages and skill levels, has worked as a contemporary and Modern Dance teacher for children ages 7-18 in Manhattan. Through her work at Groove with Me, in New York she was fortunate to have participated in the Department of Education pilot program Art a Catalyst for Change. Where Ms Baca and the high school students she worked with explored using dance as an outlet for expression.

A foot injury that required surgery brought Frances to running. What started as physical therapy on the treadmill has turned into fitness hobby! She has completed numerous 5k in the Bronx Zoo as a participant in the Wildlife Conservation Society's "Run for the Wild," two 10k Merill "Down and Dirty" mud runs, and the More|Shape Women's Half Marathon. In the coming six months Frances will run two more 5k races, the Frozen Bonsai Half Marathon, and the Star Wars™ Half Marathon.