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Teaching Philosophy
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As a teacher, I foster a positive and encouraging classroom setting that is accessible and welcoming to all. My goal is to provide a both physically and mentally challenging class without exceeding the capabilities of the students. I hold my students to high standards in order to push them and help them reach their own potential. My approach is to create self-sufficient dancers by making them practice using their problem solving skills by answering some of their questions themselves. I am always an available resource to my students and encourage them to ask questions. However, I will teach them the essential skills necessary to be independent and intelligent dancers. Dance provides many transferable skills such as etiquette, discipline, and diligence, among many others, which I work to reinforce inside and outside of the studio.
I take a hands on approach meaning I utilize tactile teaching with respect to the students, with the belief that it is an effective approach towards teaching such an athletic art form. My teaching style also takes into account each students’ anatomical makeup and encourages each individual to work in a safe and healthy manner within their own body. This promotes an injury-free working environment and provides students with the proper knowledge about their bodies to move forward in their training and careers.
I aspire to not only teach the proper execution of ballet technique, but to also inspire my students and help nurture their passions. Providing compliments and constructive criticism is an integral part of my classes in order to continue to encourage my students. While I have high expectations and truly believe in discipline, I also try to interject humor and am also very approachable. Musicality and artistry are heavily embedded within my class for the sake of keeping the students interested as well as helping them to develop as artists. At times, I give them the autonomy to add their own nuances or even do bits of improvisation. I like to start this early on with my youngest dancers and increase the frequency as my students get older. As a teacher I believe it is my duty to help kindle their passions and share my love for dance with them. I strive to build their confidence and allow my classroom to be a safe place for self-exploration and expression within the context of the class.
My background consists training with the Vaganova, Cecchetti, Bournonville, and Balanchine styles. Having had teachers from different backgrounds, I believe in an eclectic style of teaching. The dance field is becoming more demanding and students are expected to be versatile. I strive to keep my dancers on their toes and not have them become too comfortable in any certain way. By exposing them to different styles and educating them through the use of vocabulary and dance history I hope to be able to prepare them to be well-rounded and be ready to take on the professional world. I value not only the physicality of the art, but also the educational aspects behind what is being done and why it is being done a certain way. Dance spreads across the world taking on different shapes and forms while also maintaining a universal language. I strive for them to gain insight on the scope of the larger global picture while studying with me.
Dance is my passion above all things. I am so fortunate to have had so many wonderful and amazing teachers over the years whom I could learn from. Through my teaching I hope to carry on the integrity of this art form and preserve the historical nature of it. While I aspire to inspire my students, I hope to be inspired by them. I work continuously to keep learning and growing myself so that I can provide the best for my students.
