Statements
Artist Statement
I identify as a dancer, a choreographer, a teacher, a yoga enthusiast, a musician, and most importantly an artist. Dance has evolved my character and shaped me into the person I am. Without dance, I wouldn’t have found my love for movement, my enthusiasm for music, and even my gratitude for myself. It’s a raw and vulnerable art form that allows you to give all of yourself to it, exposing the inner workings of your psyche and tapping into an array of blooming emotions. My creative process includes improvisation, writing, and imagery. I enjoy exploring music of different genres for dance pieces and tend to find music first to inspire my choreographic ideas and movement vocabulary. Some other concepts that inspire my creations are nature, childhood, and impactful situations that induce big emotions. Through my inspirations, my dances become uniquely mine as I bend modern dance with abstract shapes, fluidity, athleticism, and high-quality music. I am influenced by the release technique and fall and recovery used by José Limón and Doris Humphrey. I am striving for discoveries of new ways to move and aim for a continuously inspiring and active choreographic process. When looking for dancers, I search for movers with individuality, personality, and openness. I wish to connect with my dancers and involve them in the choreographic process, so it is vital for them to have imagination and limitless creativity. My work ranges from fun, childlike play to emotional integrity and reflection. I aspire for my audience to travel a journey with me, hand-in-hand, as we explore my captivating life as a dancer, a choreographer, and an artist.
Photo by DSJ Photography
Teaching Statement
Teaching does not come naturally to a lot of people, but once I started teaching, I knew that it was the right fit for me. There are many things I love about teaching: exploring new ways of movement, creating fun sequences and progressions, connecting with my students, and most importantly watching my dancers grow and develop into their own dance identity. When I was a young dancer, my dance teacher supported me through my dance journey and served as a strong role mode. I want to give students the same feeling of comfort and care that I felt when I danced in the studio with my dance teacher. I strive to be a teacher who is friendly to everyone, adaptable to any situation, and inclusive to all. I hope I can assist students in finding a passion for dance and movement. I aspire to provide useful tools for both their dancing and their everyday life. My main goal is to spark endless creativity within my dancers, allowing them to explore their abundant imagination. In my classes, I use methods such as imagery, verbal and visual cues, repetition, improvisation, tactile feedback, and critical thinking to educate students about dance. I also love to incorporate tactics to promote mindfulness in students, such as yoga, meditation, and breath techniques. I emphasize safety, individuality, and inclusion in my studio and strive to be an advocate for queer and gender nonconforming individuals. My students receive my most genuine self as I bring imagination and play into the studio, encourage their progressions, and inspire their journeys. I hope I can continue to spread my passion for dance to many generations and shape a world of genuine, powerful dancers.
Photo by Warren County Summer Music School
