A teaching artist is a professional artist who is also trained and experienced in education and teaching. They work in various settings, such as schools, community centers, museums, and other organizations, to teach their art form to students of all ages and skill levels.
Teaching artists use their artistic skills and knowledge to create engaging and meaningful lessons that integrate their art form with academic subjects, cultural history, and their own interests or pursuits. They may teach visual arts, music, dance, theater, creative writing, or any other art form, depending on their expertise.
Teaching artists also serve as role models and mentors for their students, helping them to develop their creativity, self-expression, and critical thinking skills. They play a vital role in promoting arts education and supporting the growth and development of the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts.
The Art:
I am a dancer by trade. I’ve been dancing since age two, studying a variety of subjects, like ballet, jazz, tap, and modern. I hold a BFA in Performing Arts with a concentration in Dance from University of Louisiana at Lafayette. While there I set original choreography for “Evening of Dance” and performed under many national choreographers for “State of LA Danse”. After graduation, I performed locally in several shows before creating my own Artisan Dance Co in 2018, Space Lafayette. Space Lafayette now boasts my professional art work as a producer, performer, and choreographer. Space has completed five evening length dance works set in site-specific locations. The sixth is currently in production as “update”. The company is a grassroots effort funded by our own investments and time donations by contributing artists.
The Teaching:
I found myself in front of a classroom as early as age 16. I knew immediately, “dance teacher” would be an integral part of my identity moving forward. I taught in dance studios early on in my career from 18 to 27. My work at some point started to shift as I grew my career as an independent contractor with the PACE program through the Acadiana Center for the Arts. PACE (or primary academic creative experiences) taught me about arts integration with curriculum and creative movement as an art form. I fell in love. With the process, the students, and the work I found myself in. This combination is my flow now and this path has brought an endless amount of teaching opportunities.
