Bossy, Social, Idealist? Maybe a bit of all three.
A little about how I transitioned from teaching to art… but art (in so many forms) was always a big part of what made me me
When I started dancing at the age of 3, I stood in front of the stage during my first performance and began to ‘teach’ students who weren’t doing the proper steps. My parents still have the tape that I used to cringe at every time I saw it. I’m sort of proud of it, now! Incredible how time changes your perspective on so many things. Some may have just called me strong willed, but others would recognize the innate urge for teaching from a very young age.
I began to assist after school dance classes when I was about 9 years old and would follow teacher’s guidelines to get work done. Even then, I loved being helpful, collaborating and being creative with a team.
After traveling around Europe and living in Denmark for a year (which I will write about in its own post someday), I was fortunate enough to teach a dance course when the new Ontario curriculum came out, which included dance. I was so jealous that these new grade nine’s got to take dance for credit! The concepts were different than just studio technique classes, but included kinesiology, theory, and connections to culture. I. Was. Hooked.
In any event, it was at this point that I began to dip my toe into ‘academic’ dance. The teacher responsible for dance in my wonderful school was a Physical Education teacher who had no background in dance. So, we came up with a plan where I got to earn credit for an elective if I was able to teach the dance class, (with supervision, of course). Because I had lived abroad and on my own when I was 16, coming back to high school in Canada was a difficult transition and this helped me to focus on something positive and interesting, rather than who was dating whom and high school girl drama.
My phys ed teacher told me that I would one day be a great educator. I took this with a grain of salt. My mother is a teacher and I wasn’t sure that I wanted that lifestyle. At that point in time, I loved strange languages, people and the arts. There aren’t many jobs in teaching for these fields. I expected this experience to be something that got me a credit but I didn’t expect it to change my career goals and resonate with me for years.
After studying Political Science in University because I thought I wanted to travel and use my language skills, a friend of mine, who was too young, became very ill with cancer. She beat her disease and is now in remission and has two beautiful kiddos. However, the moment I found out she was sick, I knew I had to pursue what I loved and quickly began a plan to open up a performing arts academy. The very next day, I planned and budgeted for an academy of my own. I knew I needed to teach what I loved while I still had time.
As my years progressed, I began to just want to teach and found myself bothered by the business side of the equation. I also craved something more intellectually stimulating. I missed school, learning and reading. I returned to school for a few more degrees, which is where you will find me now. I love what I do, and I love that there is a balance of reading, inquiring, planning, guiding, classroom and creative work. Balance, I am learning is key. I taught in academia for 15 years and realized that feedback is far more important to me than assessment and the politics of academia was something I wanted to leave behind.
After burn out, therapy and much reflection, I realized that the part of teaching I loved most was the connection & vulnerability I shared with my students as humans who were figuring our how to be adults - learning, growing and making mistakes! Being in movement and theatre education, you are using your body as the instrument so often feel comfortable sharing with me because I’ve been reading and responding to body language and non-verbal communication all my life. My love of languages and travel? learning about people through (often at first) body language. Once I made this realization (that the body and learning about people was at the centre of what I loved) I started to fiddle around making art with the body that I’ve always been at odds with. And then with others. and with each person I interact with, I heal myself and see a bigger picture. A more compassionate picture. A more connected picture.
My enthusiasm and care for my students never waivered and still does not as they’ve turned into clients, models and friends. I care for them deeply and still keep connections with families who have imprinted themselves on my life. It’s something I cherish. I truly believe in each of these humans and want them to excel, not just in the dance and drama studio but I want them to become fantastic and inspiring people. So many of them are proving me right… there are some amazing people in our future generations that I get the pleasure of saying I knew when they were little, or early on in their training. The thought of having the slightest impact on their success and character gives me great pleasure.