As an educator my goal is to create an environment for my students to feel safe, vulnerable, and open to new ways of moving or choreographing. My own training began with Ballet, then as I progressed within my career I learned other techniques including Jazz, Horton, Graham, Cunningham, and Contemporary. I motivate and challenge my students to explore new practices while also challenging them to dive deeper into their own practices that they form. I acknowledge and provide a global perspective on creativity and expose my them to various cultures through music and movement. I focus on preparing young artists for a successful career and a part of that is helping them develop their identity as an artist..

Discussing diversity is a very important aspect of my curriculum because it is what is both seen and not seen in our world today. Diversity, need not be, related to just race, it can include size, gender, culture, etc. Ultimately, dance is a universal language and should be treated as such. As a black female artist I have been in spaces where this is not celebrated or isn’t addressed at all. However, that silence speaks volumes, and as an educator it is my duty to encourage students to speak both with their voices and bodies.  

I value building an inclusive community and cultivating an antiracist practice. To create a safe space it is imperative to listen, learn, then act. My objective is to create an environment where students can feel like their voices are heard, but I also recognize that these discussions might create conflict or make others feel uncomfortable. However, in certain circumstances, growth evolves through the discomfort and creates a spark of change that is necessary. As an educator it’s important to identify what my role is in disassembling a system that is unjust. It goes beyond just incorporating racial content in the classroom but also the way that I teach and my awareness of how I’m guiding and supporting my students.

I believe that teaching and learning should be a partnership between the students and myself, because I will forever be a student, and it’s essential to be open to having the students teach me as well. This involves collaborating on the lessons or exercises being given in class, and also discussing how we can shape the curriculum to what parallels their process of identifying who they are as artists. Mentoring young artists is truly my purpose in life. Building relationships, continuously reminding students that they’re more than enough, and watching them evolve into phenomenal human beings is what brings me such happiness and hope for the future generation of artists.