I believe that the art of dance is complex in the way that it impacts students individually on a person to person basis. When I look at a new group of students, I see a diverse group of people who all possess different perspectives, strengths, and intelligences. Within my instruction, I seek to learn about my students’ backgrounds and unique capabilities so that I am better suited to provide them with the right tools they need to navigate their own path confidently. Whether it be dance or life skills , I believe that all students can benefit from their experiences in the dance classroom when given the proper guidance for individualized growth. The understanding and facilitation of students’ individual backgrounds and capabilities not only encourages individualized growth, but also establishes a platform for students to be themselves unapologetically. My biggest hope as an educator is for students to explore and experience in ways that they themselmves wish to. Working to provide them with a safe space that celebrates their differences while honoring the individual. I believe there is more to instructing dance than just teaching movement; dance education holds the power to give students an unforgettable experience in which they can create, embody, and connect within themselves and with one another.

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In honoring students as individuals, I acknowledge the significance of inclusivity within dance education. In order to provide students with the space to explore, create, and express, it is my duty to ensure that students feel included, respected, and represented within the dance classroom. Inclusion and diverse representation are part of a large conversation taking place in dance education; the opportunity to experience, relate, and express is something that directly impacts students’ learning, growth, and nourishment. As a dance educator, I aim to ensure that all of my students are seen and cared for not only as dance students, but as individuals with their own stories. Whether it be through technical or creative movement, within my instruction I work to connect to my students, discovering ways for students to feel represented within their practice. Furthermore, I work to encourage verbal and physical expression within the dance classroom. Expression is a major component of the dance classroom because it gives students a platform to share their individual voices, thus helping them to understand the significant role they play in the future of our world. I trust that honoring expression in the dance classroom allows students to be active participants both in their learning experience and overall lives. Also, I believe that expression allows for everyone within the dance classroom to connect and relate to one another on a deeper level. As a dance educator, I value students’ individual voices and seek for them to be heard, encouraging and valuing their differences by providing a safe platform for expression. There is much to be learned from the expression of students in the dance classroom, and I am eager to facilitate this within the dance classroom. 

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In respecting the individual abilities and voices of students, a major factor of doing so is meeting their individual needs. As a dance educator, I work to the best of my ability to ensure that students are supported and challenged within dance instruction. I place emphasis on learning from my students and how they can learn from one another, determining how I can utilize my knowledge of indivuals to benefit their learning experience. Young learners in dance are continuously growing physically, cognitively, and emotionally. I work to honor all students’ differences and provide them with a learning experience that supports individuals while also challenging them to work to their fullest potential. I believe that regardless of students’ abilities, backgrounds, and levels, all students can take something away from their dance education experience whether it be large or small. 

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As a whole, dance education has multiple benefits for all participants regarding the growth of various intelligences, strengths, new perspectives, and overall awareness. These benefits may vary depending on the student, which I find is the beauty within the complexity of dance education. In my own experience as a dance student, my teachers have made large impacts on my intelligences, skills, and strengths as a dancer and overall human being. My experiences in the dance classroom have shaped me into the person that I am today, and I truly have those dance teachers to thank for helping me on that journey. Because of my experiences, I am inspired to have the same impact on my students and am honored to have the opportunity to do so. I strongly take into consideration the significant role that I will play in shaping students’ lives, while also knowing that my students hold the power to shape me into a better educator and overall person. Just as students can learn from educators, there is also new knowledge to be learned from the students themselves; the way I see it, dance education is a powerful cycle that benefits all participants in many ways. I believe that dance education has the power to benefit both students and teachers through acknowledging, honoring, and celebrating individual capabilities. In being a dance educator, I aim to provide students with a welcoming, inclusive learning environment that celebrates their varying strengths and intelligences. While seeking to contribute to students’ learning experiences, I also look forward to learning from my students as well. I aim to work to the best of my ability to offer students an inclusive learning experience that will nurture individual paths of growth. I trust that the powerful cycle of dance education will have a large impact on both me and my students, and I am eager to facilitate this experience.