Biography

YOUTH: I began dancing as a child, being trained in classical ballet, tap and jazz dance. As a teenager I continued studio training and added artistic roller-skating to my repertoire. In high school I was the co-captain of the drill team and a varsity cheerleader, as well as dancing at a studio in ballet and jazz. COLLEGE: In college I trained in ballet, modern, international and American folk styles. I performed on modern and folk dance teams, touring to the Maritime Provinces of Canada and the Eastern United States. I earned my degree in Early Childhood Education. PROFESSIONAL: I worked as the dance specialist for Pre-K 6th grade, integrating dance instruction with their social studies topics. I currently work as the Dance/Theatre teacher for approximately 300 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students at Vista at Entrada, a charter school specializing in Arts and Technology. I began teaching here in 2011 and created my own curriculum based on the Utah State Core Standards and incorporating ballet, jazz, modern and tap technique. I plan many of my lessons around the other areas of curriculum for 1st-3rd grade students. I work hand-in-hand with the Art/Music teacher to produce two performing arts concerts each year for each grade level. Our shows feature singing, dancing and musical theatre-style numbers, involving around 50 students per performance. After school I teach studio-style classes in ballet, tap, and a combination class which consists of hip-hop, jazz and tumbling. I also teach these classes during the summer.