About Mrs. Smith
Mrs. Smith has been dancing for sixteen years. She earned her bachelor's degree in dance education at Brigham Young University. There she had the opportunity to perform on many contemporary and world dance companies. She danced with the 'International Folk Dance Ensemble' for two years, and danced on the contemporary dance company 'DancEnsemble', where she had the opportunity to perform choreography from the Martha Graham Company. She choreographed and danced with the out reach company 'Kinnect', and in 2012 she toured to Taiwan with the company to teach and perform. During her time at BYU she received awards for both her teaching and choreography.
Contact me at: [email protected]
Contact me at: [email protected]
Teaching Philosophy
I see dance as a vehicle for learning. In my classroom dance is much more than a physical activity, it is a conceptual and artistic experience. Rather than just learning to mimic physical movement, I believe that the world can be opened to students as they participate in improvisation, choreography, and creative problem solving. I want my students to grow as individuals by learning to take risks, thinking for themselves, and fostering a curiosity for the world around them. My students learn teamwork as they work together to solve creative problems. In my classroom students learn cooperation and compromise as they work together to create art.
In a safe, uplifting, and non-competitive environment students are free to learn and explore. I love to watch children become more confident in their own decision making. Through guided movement experiences students can learn the artistry of dance as they learn to use movement as a form of self expression. They can learn to convey ideas and communicate emotions through their own choreographed movement.
I believe that dance can also be a means of increasing understanding of other curricular areas. Children can learn math and science skills, reading comprehension, and even experience history. When children learn things kinesthetically they can better internalize them. The conceptual standards, combined with a creative experience and movement helps ensure that the material sticks.
In a safe, uplifting, and non-competitive environment students are free to learn and explore. I love to watch children become more confident in their own decision making. Through guided movement experiences students can learn the artistry of dance as they learn to use movement as a form of self expression. They can learn to convey ideas and communicate emotions through their own choreographed movement.
I believe that dance can also be a means of increasing understanding of other curricular areas. Children can learn math and science skills, reading comprehension, and even experience history. When children learn things kinesthetically they can better internalize them. The conceptual standards, combined with a creative experience and movement helps ensure that the material sticks.