Creative ID: 176
East/South Auckland.
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
Hi! My biggest love in life is dance focusing on jazz, modern, contemporary, lyrical and musical theatre styles of dancing! I choreograph amazing dance pieces that students perform at their School dance shows. I also help facilitate student-led choreography so that students can learn to share their own visions through dance. My specific focus is to enable students to be confident performers who enjoy learning through dance and developing dancers to be leaders within their community. My biggest strength is my positive nature. I really love what I achieve with my students and it’s always a positive happy experience when I am teaching.
My track record of experience and success - or the track record of experience and success of the creative or artist that I will partner with
I have previously owned my own dance studio for 10 years. I have completed dance work at local schools including primary and secondary schools for over 10 years. A college has had me as a guest choreographer for over 10 years and in 2019 I directed their dance show.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
I started choreographing and teaching dance as young as 13 years old. After college I studied for a bachelor of Education. Although I never completed my last practicum as I opened my very successful dance studio instead. After owning my studio for 10 years and having three lovely children of my own I retired from being a studio owner, however still taught in my local community at various schools in both primary and college sectors. My experience with students of all ages is endless. I enjoy teaching students of all ages right up to adults. Because I have had vast experience with all ages and abilities it allows me to plan and teach programmes that can inspire and develop students of any age or ability.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
In all honesty I feel like I am already a creative in school with the work I have been doing but by being part of this programme I will have more reach and help more students grow though the love of dance. This programme will enable me to keep sharing everything I know and strive for already and will allow me to teach even more students in 2020.