Why Do I Choreograph and Teach?

I've always had a deep love for choregraphing since I was a little dancer. I loved sculpting bodies, whether it be my own or with others, to create beautiful imagery. I was drawn to telling authentic stories that both the dancers and the audience could relate and grow from.

 

So, when I got my first choregraphing and rehearsal directing job at the age of 16, it was both empowering and transformative.  I knew that in my hands I had the power to impact a dancer's life. At first the idea was incredibly scary. I tried to shape myself into the most perfect teacher. I looked at teachers around me and asked myself 'what traits did those teachers have that most impacted my life?'. Some traits I recognized that I still carry into my teaching is positive energy, nurturing, dancer vs life balance, honest, humble, etc. But most of all I realized that what all those teachers had in common was being authentically human. 

 

There was no such thing as a perfect teacher and holding myself to that standard hindered my teaching. I found more impact on my students when I empathized with them and brought myself to their same level. I found that my choreography began to flourish too because of this. When I began sculpting my pieces around my students and not personal vision, they grew into astonishing pieces that everyone enjoyed. Now my core value of teaching is to be authentically human with my students and see how each individual has something unique to offer to the world (and I don't mean just in the dance field).

Choreography Reel

The Means of a Woman

The Means of a Woman is Contemporary Jazz, six girl group piece set on Point Park University. When originally creating this piece, I wanted to create a woman empowered piece that didn't follow the typical sexy route that most take. How can a woman be empowered by showing strength instead of always defaulting to sexy ideas. This piece explored the many oppressive realities that woman face such as body shaming, gay love, girl on girl partnering, having a voice, and 'looking like a woman' (Heels and makeup). How can we still remain powerful forces without the need to identify with the stereotypical woman culture

Competition Solos

This is a set of competition solos that I have set throughout the years of choreographing. I've loved working with students and meshing their skills and styles into these pieces. Choreography can only come as far as the students let it  .... and boy did these students embrace it. 

Group Choreography

I Will Follow You was a Lyrical competitive piece set on a Mini group at Sweatshop LTD. When I was originally proposed to set this piece, I wanted to be something that kids could relate too. Often times in competition I would see mini pieces that covered topics too old for them to relate too. 

 

I decided to center this piece around friendships and how you cherish and love your closest friends. How if your able to, follow them wherever they go.  This piece earned 1st overall place awards as well as numerous top 10 placements

OctaHate was a Jazz piece set on ages 15-18 group of students at Denver School of the Arts. This piece was for their Spring showcase. When setting this piece, I wanted to explore the realm of having a jazz piece cover more complex and deep themes.

 

This piece surrounded how often times it feels like life (or people) feel to be pushing you down.  That it takes a pivotable moment of realizing your self worth to change the tides and manifest how you want your life to be (or relationship).

Teaching

The Wolves is a Contemporary Jazz combination that was originally sculpted for college level students. However, it has evolved into a combination that can be set upon teen 15-18. The Wolves combination focuses on accents and integrative floor work as well as sculpting the body to telling the story at hand. 

 

This story takes place in a world so chaotic that one easily loses themselves in. How can we pull ourselves out of chaos with listening and connection.

Let's Get Loud is a beginner Latin Ballroom combination. It explores the realm of Cha Cha with some integrated jazz movement to help students familiarize themselves with the combination. This combination can be set on all levels of students who are just entering the realm of ballroom dance. 

 

Let's get Loud is just a Latin dance party that everyone can relate to when listening to J'Lo

Other Choreographic Works

Whatever Lola Wants

College Audition Solo Jazz Piece

2023

Hadley Johnson

Freelance

Retrospection

Solo Junior Contemporary Competitive Piece

2022

Isabella Lopez

Sweatshop Dance

Belly of the Beast

Solo Junior Contemporary Competitive Piece

2022

Arkayha Averill

Sweatshop Dance

Untold

Solo Teen Contemporary Competitive Piece

2021

Olivia Searing

Sweatshop Dance

World on Fire

Solo Teen  Lyrical Competitive Piece

2021

Kaci Merkert

Sweatshop Dance

I Ran Away

Solo Teen Contemporary Competitive Piece

2021

Presley Nichols

Sweatshop Dance

Take Five

10th-12th Grade Classic Jazz Group Piece

2017

Junior Jazz Showcase

Denver School of the Arts

Blue Skys

Solo Senior Contemporary Competitive Piece

2017

Reagan Nix

Sweatshop Dance

The Hunt

Solo Senior Contemporary Competitive Piece

2016

Reagan Nix

Sweatshop Dance