Alison Hammond Castro has been teaching at the middle and high school level for fifteen years and holds a Master of Arts in education from San Francisco State University. She is passionate about fostering personal growth through participation in performance. As an educator, the best gift she can give her students is to inspire them to become self-directed learners and critical thinkers. Alison has been performing for over 10 years as a company dancer and percussionist in the West African Music and Dance Ensemble based in Richmond, California. She has studied Afro-Cuban dance, song and percussion . Alison frequently performs with Cuban ensembles in the SF Ethnic Dance Festival, Cuba Caribe, and SF Salsa Rueda Festival. She performed in Brazilian carnaval with Rio Maracatu and Olodum. She currently teaches yoga in West Chester and ethnic dance at Taller Puertorriqueño and Play on Philly! Alison also has organizing and non-violent direct action protesting experience through Earth First! and Rainforest Action Network in Northern California.