Lady Walquer Vereen was born in Harlem, and got her start in dancing there. She was discouraged from pursuing a career in dancing as the teachers considered her awkward. She also considered a career as an opera singer but that offered few opportunities for blacks at the time. She got a lucky break and eventually joined the tour of HAIR which brought her to Southern California. The sister of Ben Vereen, she has had a successful career as a dancer and choreographer and is committed to her role as a teacher in the community.