Teaching Statement

As a teacher of dance, I hope to leave my students with a deeper understanding and exploration of their physical, mental and expressive abilities by connecting ideas to movement that cultivate personal observations of the body’s energy, flow, space, and shape. I truly share my heart with my students. Showing character and passion along with knowledge and intelligence, I provide a creative, intellectual, and inspirational learning space. I believe that each dancer is unique, and I encourage the search for individuality as one develops artistic expression. I am passionate about the way dancing affects the heart and soul, and I feel honored to share the beauty of movement with my students.

My values as a teacher consistently revolve around the physical, intellectual and emotional aspects of dance. I believe this trifecta, whether working in congruent harmony or bringing cognitive dissonance, provides a deeper understanding of the self. Students deserve the opportunity to develop and understand each aspect of their being. As a student, I have experienced many instructors who focused exclusively on technical growth (the physical aspect), neglecting the intellectual and emotional factors. I believe instructors sometimes avoid these neglected factors because they create vulnerability in the dancer, but that vulnerability is the key to a great artist. As a teacher, I strive to delve into an advantageous combination of all three factors. I view this idea as holistic movement.

In order to utilize all three aspects of dance mentioned above, I encourage my students to use both analytical and creative thought processes during class. A successful dancer benefits from analyzing the most efficient pathways of movement, as well as the anatomical structure of the body, in order to understand how it impacts the individual’s adaptation to technique. However, the subconscious power of creativity is equally important. The subconscious integrates the whole self. When the dancer opens herself to her subconscious, she discovers new possibilities. As a teacher, I create exercises that foster analytical and creative exploration in my classes. Exploring the analytical and the creative brings a greater understanding of the internal landscape of the individual as a holistic mover.

Using my aesthetic values, I challenge students to become efficient and versatile dancers and to convey clear intention. I value design through space as the dancer travels across the floor, or carves the space around them. I explore both distal and proximal initiation of movement, and how it influences the mechanics of movement. I also value the exploration of relationships between weight and gravity as it relates to both force and flow. With these values I create a place for students to investigate. I encourage students to make self-discoveries and take initiative in their development as an artist.

In my classes, I facilitate change in my students by using imagery, anatomical descriptions, and other precise word choices. I make the effort to understand each student as an individual and acknowledge various learning styles in order to efficiently facilitate change. I am inspired by musicality, and I utilize variations of musical influences to explain rhythm, energy and spatial intent to students. I believe that providing multiple paths for exploration and discovery is important when attempting to facilitate change in numerous students.

I love dance, with all my heart. I feel privileged to understand my body and express my inner self through movement. I hope to develop energy inside my students that evolves into a desire and joy for movement. I do this by “conveying personal passion such that it opens the space for students/dancers to recognize and build on their own passion” as Susan Douglas Roberts states. I encourage and support my students in their journeys. I hope to provide students with an atmosphere that is positive, and therefore welcomes risk taking, exploration, and searching into the unknown.

I strive to motivate my students to grow and develop as an artist as I share the beauty of movement with them. I seek to prepare students for their future endeavors as a dancer and person through creative, intellectual and inspirational learning. I am a passionate and dedicated teacher. I am a person of character and a positive role model for students. I share knowledge in a positive way, and I provide opportunities for self-discovery. I feel honored to be a part of each student’s journey as they learn about the beautiful art of dance.