College earning her Associates Degree in nursing.In 1986 she received her Bachelors Degree in nursing from Virginia State University and her Masters Degree in Public Administration in 1994 from Virginia Commonwealth University. Delegate Dance has been named a Distinguished Alumni of each of her Alma Maters.

During Delegate Dance's professional career she worked at the Southside Virginia Training Center (“SVTC”) for 34 years. Delegate Dance began as a Psychiatric Nurse’s Aide and rose to the level of Interim Facility Director and retired as the Assistant Director of Residential Services.

In 1992, Delegate Dance was elected as Mayor of Petersburg, Virginia, and she retained that office for 12 years. During her tenure, she initiated the citywide “Petersburg- A City of Readers Program,” and helped reduce Petersburg’s incarcerated youth population while playing an instrumental role in securing Virginia's first Governor's School for the Arts and Technology which opened in Petersburg in September 1999. See Delegate Dance when she was the Mayor !

In April 2005, Delegate Dance was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. Immediately upon taking office, she helped Governor Warner obtain millions of dollars to fund education and public safety. By securing $500, 000 state grant, Delegate Dance helped spur tourism and economic development on the waterfont of Petersburg.During 2006-2011 sessions of the Virginia General Assembly, Delegate Dance filed numerous bills and budget amendments to improve the 63rd District.

As a member of the House of Delegates she currently sits on three distinguished committees within the House of Delegates – Appropriations, General Laws, and Health, Welfare and Institutions. Delegate Dance also serves on numerous government related boards such as- Chairwoman of the Brown vs. Board of Education Scholarship Committee, member of the Joint Commission on Health Care, member of the Virginia Bicentennial of the American War of 1812 Commission, member of the Local Government Policy Transition Committee, member of the Maximum Employment Incentive Project Approval Commission, the Virginia Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation, the Justice Reinvestment Initiative Work Group, the Federal Action Contingency Trust (FACT) Fund Approval Commission, member of the Virginia Center for Health Innovation's Health Care Integration Advisory Subcommittee and serves as Vice Chair of Operations and Policy for the House Democratic Caucus.

Her Public Service and Civic Commitments include- Co-Chair of the Virginia State University Agriculture Council Advisory Board, member of United Way Board of Directors for the Greater Richmond and Petersburg areas, member of Columbia Gas of Virginia Warmwise Advisory Committee, member of the John Tyler Community College Foundation Board, Honorary regional chair of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Honorary Board of Directors for the Petersburg Community Development Corporation, and member of the Board of Directors of the Southside area Y.M.C.A.

Delegate Dance serves as Vice Chair of the Petersburg Democratic Committee and member of the Third Congressional District Democratic Committee. She is a member of the Gillfield Baptist Church, the Petersburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Petersburg Links, Inc., past President and member of the Petersburg Breakfast Rotary Club and member of Chapter 33 Order of the Eastern Stars.

Delegate Dance has received numerous awards, citations and special recognitions from numerous public private, civic, and social groups and organizations for her continuous community service and her role as a public servant and advocate for the residents and businesses within the 63rd District and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Most importantly, she is the wife of Nathaniel (Nat) Dance Sr., the mother of Tanya DanceKelly and Nathaniel (Nat III) Dance III, grandmother to Devon, Jarrett, Liam, and Jaden, great grandmother to Briana and foster grandmother to Rico Robinson.