While exploring the natural desire for relationships regardless of backgrounds and social systems, I strive to dismantle traditional social constructs in the classroom, on the stage, and in interpersonal conversations. I leverage an introspective approach to building community.  I have found that coming from a place of  self-love and wholeness encourages my peers, students and anyone I come into contact with to be honest with themselves and show up for themselves in a way that uniquely utilizes their sense of agency. I offer authenticity and a conducive learning environment for everyone, regardless if the student believes in themselves or not. I believe when students develop their sense of awareness, it allows them to be vulnerable enough to let their guard down and lean on others for support when they need it. My hope as their educator is that as I lead by example, it will help students deepen their own perspective and legitimize the benefits of community, agency, and develop self-trust and artistry. This example allows students to show up into class with the courage to be confident and as a result it makes it  easier to access authenticity from a whole perspective.

 

Although I find value in traditional pedagogical practices, there is an underlying dehumanization process that takes place in order for it to function. In other words, instead of everyone learning from each other, there is only one expert and the rest do what they are told. Unfortunately, that completely disregards any knowledge or expertise a student can offer to your class. It takes away their voice and in my pedagogical practices, I want to give it back by allowing them to communicate areas that I am not as fluent in so it creates an environment where everyone learns from each other. Under traditional practices, students might  crave constant validation from teachers and expect perfectionism from themselves.

 

Through my practices, I hope it cultivates an undeniable sense of self-belief and progress. As an advocate of self confidence, I don’t believe in dimming your own light for the comfortability of others. As an artist and choreographer, I believe in creating and producing work unapologetically because if you wait on confirmation from others you might not get it. As a student myself, I felt my instructors consciously and subconsciously categorized me as one type of dancer and because of that my confidence decreased. Now, in my classroom I strive to decolonize categorizing my student’s abilities by affirming them  because they can do anything they put their mind too.