Creative ID: 221
I am submitted in a dual application with Naenae College in Lower Hutt.
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I am a dance teacher, choreographer, and adjudicator. Currently, my specific focus is teaching and choreographing the genre of jazz, most of which is done at a local dance studio. However, I have trained in and now adjudicate other dance genre, specifically Hip Hop, where I have competed nationally and internationally and for which i am now involved with adjudicating in studios, regional, and national competitions.
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 sat examinations for the American Jazz Dance Affiliation (AJDA) syllabus to an advanced level. I have competed nationally and internationally in the Hip Hop Unite world competitions, winning gold in 2004. Currently I teach primary, intermediate and college age students at a dance academy. This year, I put three of my classes through AJDA examinations and achieved a 100% pass rate. Last year I toured New Zealand as a teacher and adjudicator fora regional and national inter-school dance competition. With regards to each region, this entailed teaching workshops to different school age groups and then adjudicating their competition pieces in the evening. As per my CV, I have also taught dance at an intermediate as a part of their 'Elective' and then 'Community Sports' subjects. I also choreographed their Dance splash entry and school production during my tenure there. Around a similar time I was invited to teach at a high school
Valley High School as a part of an NCEA dance assessment for which I also assessed the students final performance.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
As outlined above.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
I am extremely passionate about the arts and the importance of the role it holds within our community. I enjoy supporting youth to develop their capability within the arts, to realise their full potential and guide them in the knowledge that the Arts is something they can continue to pursue both during and after their primary and secondary school years. Dance is a really valuable communication tool. I can see that within this current generation, especially against the backdrop of previous generations, society is avidly trying to equip our tamariki and rangatahi with the skills to communicate better, as they know that this betters their general well-being and mental health. I see it as my challenge to provide dance as a communicative skill and this challenge would be able to be progressed/ even fulfilled by teaching at the college.