YOU ARE HERE: Episode #10 Overcoming Spinal Cord Injuries, A Test of Faith

About this episode

Marka shares her journey of overcoming spinal cord injuries and the role of faith in her recovery.

Marka was raised and trained in Baltimore, MD, USA, at the Harriet Sauber Eisner Studio and The Baltimore Ballet. She also regularly performed with The Baltimore Actors Theater, Spotlighters Theater, The Vagabond Players and other local professional theater companies. After high school she was offered a full scholarship at The Boston Conservatory and then The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, where she was invited into Ailey’s prestigious Ailey II Performance Company. In 1981, she was offered a job to teach Modern and Ballet in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She worked there for nearly 8 years, training dancers and actors. She also performed in and choreographed for Concert Dance, Broadway and other International Musical Theater Productions, Television and Movies. In 1989, Marka returned to the United States. Needing health care for her son who had a “preexisting condition”, she became a Firefighter and EMT. She worked for The James Island Fire Department and Charleston County EMS. In her mind, this was just another kind of performance art. She fell in love with the work! Helping others, like teaching, always felt right. While being a part of the Fire Department, she renewed her…

People in this episode

Guest: Marka

Topics covered

• spinal cord injuries
• faith
• personal growth
• healthcare

Keywords

• dance
• firefighter
• EMT
• personal training

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Ailey II Performance Company, Boston Conservatory

Books & works: Overcoming Spinal Cord Injuries, This is Body Grief

Places: Baltimore, MD, USA, Buenos Aires, Argentina, the United States, New York City, Atlanta, Charleston

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