It is a priority for my practice to consider not just my communities of origin or comfort, but communities that are in the peripheries of my current understandings. It is my goal to cultivate my understanding of populations with current barriers to connection with others through the arts. It is essential that as many voices as possible are included in the efforts of theatre, in particular theatre for young audiences, in examining the human experience as a spectrum. Focusing on the provision of quality theatre for young people of all abilities with special attention paid to equitable supports for young people and their families is essential in the expansion of Theatre for Youth and drama in educational settings.
I bring skills through the lens of both traditional classroom teaching and arts organization-based teaching. I strive to create connections in both worlds of arts-based experiences for and with youth to better develop my teaching practice. I have wrestled with the question “Am I a teacher who makes art or an artist who teaches?” since discovering the many possible avenues of arts-based teaching. I have decided that it is up to me to see the artistry in the many ways in which teaching and learning can happen. This is why I am committed to learning more and creating work at the crux of theatre for young audiences, theatre in education, multi modal art making, access and inclusion, and immersive, multi-sensory theatre.
I am interested in creating theatre arts-based work that ensures that we honor the idea of multiple pathways to expression in demonstrating skills and knowledge. Providing experiences for young people and their care givers that makes them feel included, supported, and that they are free to express themselves is at the center of my practice. There is no right way to be enjoy the arts.
It is my duty as an educator to not only consider the whole child, but the whole population of children. If teaching and learning are a symbiotic relationship we should ensure that all walks of life are represented to ensure a wide sampling of experience is being shared.
My Mission
To create engaging, thought provoking drama based experiences for and with young people.
I will create theatre that considers and encourages young people to be active, curious, involved participants in society. I believe all people can be transformed by exceptional creative experiences and all children should be able to experience arts opportunities.
I will engage youth in sensory based arts experiences as a catalyst for social and emotional learning. It is my belief that we enrich the lives of young people by sparking their imagination and increasing their creative responses. I support people of varying abilities, ethnicities, and backgrounds to become full participants in the community; choosing for themselves how to live, learn, work, socialize and play through creative exploration and choice making.
“Thank you for spending a week with us and sharing your expertise on drama. My students and I missed you this morning, but we did one “ohh, a laylay!” in your honor. Your lessons were fun, informative, and met common core standards. Thanks for that. Good luck in all you do.”
In this work i value:
Making space for all forms of creative expression.
Transformation through exceptional creative experiences.
A multi-sensory approach that ensures the engagement of all children.
Touching, Smelling, Tasting, Hearing, and Feeling theatre.
Young people participating in shaping the narrative, both in this work and in society.
Moments of surprise, joy, uncertainty, and curiosity.
Making a positive difference to the lives of young people and their care givers.
Creating a shared experience where families can participate and grow together.