| Biography: Dana Rice is a native of Jackson, MS. Her musical background is a colorful one including many and varied forms of artistic expression. At the age of 5, she began piano lessons with Mr. Don Thigpen. While taking lessons, she was exposed to some of the most gifted artists in Jackson - many of whom would eventually form the award winning Mississippi Mass Choir.
She would soon discover acting by watching her mother, Dr. Janice K. Neal-Vincent a pioneer of Speech and Dramatic Art at Jackson State University who helped pave the way for the Spoken Word movement of the 90's with her group the Daughters of Margaret and her speech choirs. Dana's first spoken word performance was to an audience of about 2000 in New Orleans when she was only 9 years old.
Over the years she has been blessed to work with and study under people like Dr. Tonea Stewart, Sandra Polanski, and the late Hollis Pippin.
She got her primary training however in the AME Zion church where she grew up. She sang in the CR Thompson Mass Choir, the national youth choir of the AME Zion church under the direction of Brian Moore, Wardell Lewis, George Maize, and others.
In 1996, she and her husband Damian made Atlanta their home. She has since taught voice at Soapstone Center for the Arts and launched her own music school with Gloria McCall of the Gospel Music Workshop of America.
Also, an ordained minister, Dana served as part of the ministerial staff of Ray of Hope Christian Church where Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale is pastor for 4 years. After graduating from the ITC with the Master of Divinity Degree in 2002, she and her husband planted Messiah Life Christian Church.
In her effort to reach members for the church, Funky Faith was born. She used spoken word events at Pizza joints to invite people to Christian Discipleship. Her belief that the gospel is a living force that is totally relevant to everyday life propels her to share the spoken word so passionately. Through the spoken word, she has been able to combine her two great passions - music and preaching.
She is currently working on her next project to be released late 2007 on which fans will get to hear more of her singing voice mixed in with her spoken word.
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