Teaching Artist & Mentor
Pedagogically, I take holistic and progressivist approaches for my students as I believe in educating the whole person. With that in mind, I want to work towards translating technique into each person's facility and allow dancers to be active participants in their movement explorations. The integration of dance and disability and the acceptance of all bodies in the dance community is also very important to my arts identity, especially as an educator. Owning your space through movement creates a powerful and important experience for all people, regardless of ability, and should be shared more widely throughout different populations. Promoting this in the arts can truly fill and uplift the community.
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Currently, I am training with Mindful Schools in their month long Mindfulness Foundations and independently studying trauma informed care.
2021-present
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As a lead teacher & mentor with DMF Youth, I strive to create a space for our students to learn the importance of exercise and develop skills to help them with their social, emotional & mental health. All programming is free for the students to increase arts access within our community. We begin each session with a check-in before completing our dance fitness. We then work on our social/emotional health activities before finishing with a quick dance party.
DMF Youth: Lead Teacher
Oquirrh West Project: Teaching Artist
2020-2021​
While a performing company member for the Oquirrh West Project in SLC, UT, I worked as a teaching artist in local schools. I facilitated and organized improvisation, creation and contemporary classes for high school aged pre-professional students in the community both in person and online. Additionally, I created more opportunities for them to engage with the company through performances and workshops.
GroundWorks DanceTheatre: Teaching Artist
2019-2020
During my season with GroundWorks DanceTheatre, I had the privilege to engage with my hometown community of Cleveland, OH through education outreach. I co-wrote curriculum and lesson plans with classroom teachers to build upon Math, Science & ELA skills, collaborated with local organizations to coordinate community programming, trained in best teaching practices for movers and non-movers, and students practices for student's with disabilities. I worked on several residencies including one at a magnet school where many students are deaf or hard of hearing.
Studio Educator & Master Class Teacher
2015-present
Since my high school graduation, I have worked as a guest teacher, substitute teacher, choreographer, and long term school year teacher in dance studios. My studio teaching experience includes ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, creative movement, lyrical, floor work and partnering. I love empowering the next generation of movers to take ownership of their dancing, work hard, and excel. My students range from age 2-adult.
