My Philosophy
Kids naturally explore space, making movement choices that please them: jumping, turning, tumbling etc. All dance has its foundation in these beginning movement choices. Carefully and very creatively expanding a child's menu of creative movement choices is what I do. I believe in preserving kids' uninhibited enjoyment of movement as I introduce them to the world of dance in an enthusiastic, warm and patient manner. I often feel like the Pied Piper of the dance world. My students love to dance and it shows!
My goal is to instill the joy of movement and motivate self confidence in my students. Sharing modern dance affords me a wonderful opportunity to do that. In class, students learn dances that I choreograph for them to delightful, tasteful music that I believe they will love! They also explore technique by dancing fun combinations of steps across the floor. Creative improvisation is another aspect of the modern dance form. At each class level we dance approximately twenty unique improvisations throughout the school year. An improvisation may be as simple as dancing with silk scarves or satin ribbons to motivate increased upper body movement or as sophisticated as moving within fabric stretch tubes to explore the tighter more dramatic feelings of sadness, fear or loneliness. Each of my improvisational movement activities has a purpose in developing and strengthening the dancer. My students find it endless fun to explore movement and gain self awareness through improvisation!