Elizabeth Mendana, MFA, is a member of the InterPlay-based Wing It! Performance Ensemble in Oakland, CA and is an international InterPlay leader and performer. She is versed in dance, theatre, and stage wisdom with a special gift for caring about people and art at the same time. The San Francisco Chronicle has called her dancing "Stunning" and "Hypnotic". She has performed with several San Francisco choreographers as well as presenting her own creative work with her company Mendana Productions. She has recently relocated to Seattle where she hopes to continue creating performance art, teach Pilates, and make a home.

Diane holds an undergraduate degree in Dance Education from Ohio State and an MFA in performance and choreography from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She has served on the dance faculties at the University of Akron, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and Northwestern University. Currently Diane is on the faculty at Loyola University of Chicago coordinating the Masters In Education/Dance Endorsement Partnership with the Chicago Public Schools. From 1991-2021 she taught dance, fine arts, and yoga at Wheeling High School in Illinois and uses InterPlay within the curriculum. Diane has introduced thousands of teens to InterPlay both at Wheeling and in workshop settings for dancers, poets, and theatre students in at state and national level conferences. She has also presented numerous workshops for educators on local and national levels. She is proud to be one of the first leaders certified by Phil and Cynthia...way back when... Diane is a wife, mother (of two adult sons), and was an active volunteer on Chicago's Dance for Life. She was a contributing editor/writer for Dance Spirit and Dance Teacher magazines (NYC) since from 1997-2019 with over 100 articles published. In 2002 she was named the NDA (National Dance Association) Midwest Dance Educator, in 2007 she was named University of Wisconsin Madison School of Education Distinguished Alumni Award receipient and credits InterPlay as the unique part of her work in the schools. In 2014 Diane was awarded Chicago's Ruth Page Award for her work as an advocate, mentor and educator. Diane is currently facilitating the InterPlay in Education initiative.