Jerylann Warner, Artistic Director, choreographer

Jerylann's credits in dance include twenty five years of teaching, choreography and early on, performing. To date, Jerylann has taught at Harvard and Emory Universities, Lesley College, University of Massachusetts Boston, and Georgia State University. She has directed two dance programs at Atlanta-based performing arts high schools and has served as a consultant, curriculum writer and project manager for dance in public school initiatives. She currently teaches at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center and the Decatur School of Ballet, where she is also a resident choreographer. Her choreography has been commissioned by numerous regional companies and foundations including Channel 11, the UNICEF Foundation, MTV Basement Videos, and Georgia Shakespeare. She received her early training in Afro-based vernacular jazz and Dunham technique from Brenda Bufalino (as well as Ms. Dunham) and went on to earn a B.A. in dance from Brockport State University. She later trained with Marcus Schulkind, Susan Rose, Peg Brightman, Lennie Williams , Danny Sloan, and Jeanette Neil. Jerylann most enjoys her current role as company director for Gathering Wild Dance.

Claire Horn began dancing at Ballet Mississippi, and was introduced to modern dance as a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she performed with the student company, Modernextension. While in North Carolina, she performed with Anima Dance, Independent Dancemakers and Choreo Collective, and studied at the American Dance Festival with Betty Jones, John Jasperse, Jeremy Nelson, David Dorfman, and Lisa Race. Since moving to Atlanta, in addition to Gathering Wild, which she joined in 2004, Claire has performed with Coriolis Dance Inc. She has also created work: a duet for herself as part of a showcase of Atlanta choreographers presented by indieMOVE, and commissions for Callanwolde Dance Ensemble and Cartersville School of Ballet. She works as the Communications Manager for Several Dancers Core and is a registered yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance at the 200 hour level.

Toya R. Willingham is a Choreographer, Professional Dancer and Dance Instructor, currently residing with her husband in Snellville, Georgia. She has been dancing since the age of four and graduated from DeKalb Center for the Performing Arts at Avondale High School. She attended Gwinett Medical Tech with a major in Respiratory Therapy.
Her choreography has been showcased at Coker College, the University of South Carolina, National High School Dance Festival, DeKalb School of the Arts, Cartersville City Ballet, St. Pius X High School and most recently at Decatur City Dance. In addition to Gathering Wild, she is a member of the Professional Company of Decatur City Dance directed by Kathleen Everett. She is a full-time teacher at Decatur School of Ballet as well as Decatur City Dance and a part-time teacher at Cartersville School of Ballet and Woodland High School.
Toya’s future aspirations are to continue dancing as well as establish her own company with the help of Gathering Wild and Decatur School of Ballet friends and family.