#ndeo

Re:

SFUSD Arts Festival 2017: John Muir & Argonne Performances

SFUSD Arts Festival 2017: Longfellow & Cesar Chavez Performances

SFUSD Arts Festival 2017: Our Experience In Photographs, Mosaic Style :)

SFUSD Arts Festival 2017: Some Of My Favorite Pieces

SFUSD Arts Festival 2017: Collected Letters by Liu Jianhua

SFUSD Arts Festival 2017: A Personal Reflection

"Love the pointers to your work on Tumblr and so enjoyed the personal reflection on the SFUSD festival. Thank you for sustaining an independent but communally oriented voice in the arts!" - NDEO Dance Educator | CDEA Co-President (May 2017)

Feast your eyes on allllll of the trash I made in the past week! With motivation/inspiration from my supervisor (shout out to Lisa) and dance/life mentor (Sara Pearson <3), I brought my plastic film waste to MOM’s Organic Market to recycle! 

The straws were given to me at restaurants--so now I know to request straw-less water when I go out to eat. The glow sticks are from a sustainability event at work last week (ironic, I know...but everything else was upcycled and recyclable!). And yes, you are looking at my chewed gum. This week’s task: get biodegradable gum ($$$). On the topic of gum, check out this short trailer about how gum is ruining the planet: http://www.darksideofthechew.com/.

And now, for a more uplifting video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LsabQV0Yjk

Movin’ right along...

I’d like to share about my experiences at the National Dance Education Organization Conference. I am unbelievably grateful to the Erika Thimey Company for sending me to this conference for two days. At the conference, I saw many past, present, and future teachers, colleagues, and mentors. Below are some of my biggest takeaways:

-My dance education has helped me in all realms of life: leadership, social situations, empathizing, organization skills, openness, community building, etc. This discovery continues to unfold and amaze me. The magical part is this: when I was learning these skills, I was unaware it was happening! Dance teachers are sneaky, empowering superheros. THIS is why I teach.

-Dance education in the public school system can challenge and address systemic oppression. All of the educations with whom I spoke at the conference are dedicated to empowering their students to be CHANGE AGENTS. What a great term! 

-Messy stuff like negative emotions, politics, social justice, etc., exist INSIDE the studio, as well outside. Many students do not have the privilege of leaving their fears and oppression at the door. As a teacher, I am exploring ways to use dance as a way to amplify silenced voices, connect dismissive/avoidant/anxiously-attached hearts, problem solve, create, and collaborate. 

-”Community is the only way we will survive.” -Karen Bradley 

-My current classroom goals are: Facilitate Leadership and Bravery, Facilitate Community, Facilitate Vulnerability, Ask Questions that Mold Well-Rounded Artists...and be open to changing goals and re-prioritizing as needed! Teaching is improvisation :)

In conclusion, dance education will save the world (before gum destroys it).

I’d like to especially give thanks to my high school and college dance teachers, Melissa Bell, Lynda Fitzgerald, and all of the UMD Faculty! Thank you for showing me that I can make dance my life. I hope to live up to your standards <3

Let’s be kind to ourselves and each other this week! Enjoy the fresh fall air and watch some leaves fall.