Reclaimed Voice

Finding My Way Back: Balancing My Students’ Voices and My Own

I admit, I’m having a hard time getting motivated to start another school year.
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After the most amazing, heartfelt concert celebrating 25 years, the last part of the year nearly broke my spirit. End-of-year wrap-ups, student conflicts, and changes to next year’s course selections left me feeling depleted. I lost myself in the chaos. It’s not the first time that happened, but this time it lingered.

• So how do I move forward from that place?
• How do I bring a renewed, positive mindset into this new year?
• How do I regain my footing while making room for my voice with a student-centered model?

I used the summer break to step back and reflect on why I was feeling so depleted, I found that I was doubting my practice, strategies, and teaching methods. After all of these years, I was questioning my purpose. The deep love for dance, and the excitement of sharing it had been clouded by the year's challenges. At that moment, I realized that to fulfill my passion for teaching, I had to rediscover my purpose and return to my roots: celebrate my practice, voice, and the artist I am. 

Today, I stepped back into the studio and took a moment to be in the space. It was the perfect moment to move for myself. I shifted weight from side to side then front and back. I turned on the music and stretched my arms up to the ceiling and then allowed them to drop with a bounce in my knees. It felt good. This simple moment to was the perfect spark I needed to begin creating the introductory warm-up; movement that feels good, that I’m excited to share, and that brings me joy. 

Lesson refinement is always part of my practice, but this year needs to start with sharing my voice and feel connected to my work. I’m leaning on my own method: Do what you know. Use what you have. Make what you need. Starting from what feels most authentic allows me to meet my students from a place of vision and joy. There will be times to step back and let them shine, but that doesn’t mean disappearing. This year, I’m making the conscious choice to center myself so I can better center them and holding space for both our voices.

Joyful movement is my motivation for this year.

Movement Offering:
I use all my experiences and inspirations when I create. Here is a movement prompt that honors these ideas and focus for the year.

• Think of a movement that feels good to you. I recommend you take some time to explore.
• How do you like to start class?
• What's your favorite stretch?
• What is your go-to or signature move?

Put them together into a short phrase. Then, choose music that brings you joy or sparks a memory. Dance and celebrate you!

For more on the strategies and reflective practices that guide my planning, you can explore my book, Choreographing the Curriculum, where I share tools and questions designed to help dance educators create programs rooted in both their own artistry and their students’ voices.
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Photo Credit: Patrick Albert