LONNETTA GAINES is a retired educator who has danced professionally in the New York City-based companies of Eleo Pomare, Dianne McIntyre, and George Faison. She also worked at the North Sarasota Library, where she still volunteers. Her first appearance on WBTT’s stage was in Purlie. More recently, she performed in WBTT’s production of Life in the Cancer Lane and also performed in Old Enough to Know Better at the Florida Studio Theatre. Lonnetta is the author of a children’s book, Fia and the Butterfly:7 Stories for Character Education.