Training While Teaching

My Journey As a Teacher

Early Experiences

 I have been teaching for over a decade. From being captain in high school, to being an officer on my collegiate dance team, to being a dance teacher at a local dance studio for 3 years, to my current role as  a dance team director—- all of these experiences have molded and shaped me into being a great leader and an effective teacher. 

The Difficult Phase

Here’s the catch-I haven’t always taught dance. My biggest teaching experience was when I taught  English and Speech. I HATED it! Although I grew as an educator, I realized that I missed dance. I was very miserable and unhappy in that position because it was not serving my passion or my goals.  This only made me dream bigger and work harder. I kept myself focused on dance by linking with my good friend Danielle to work with her & her dance students on a regular basis. I set a plan for myself to become a dance educator, start training again, and eventually to become a professional dancer/ choreographer.

Finally, after 4 very very long years,  I was blessed to become a high school dance teacher and dance director. That extra time and energy I spent keeping myself focused and connected to dance paid off.  When my team DOMINATED 2 competitions in a row, I was happy to be sharing my craft in a meaningful way, and I knew that I could reach new levels in my personal career. 

The Full Circle Moment

Fast forward 6 months past the height of a global pandemic, I began my training again, and after 2 short months, I was blessed with the opportunity to teach commercial classes. To be honest, I was not ready! I felt like I needed to train more, I needed to become a better dancer, I didn’t know a lot of people in the dance community, and a million other reasons why that was not the right time.  But the truth is, I am ready, I’ve been ready, I was born ready. All of my experiences, especially those 4 years in the classroom, set me up for this very moment. It’s crazy because I didn’t see that until now.