"I provide comprehensive dance education that gives students
the tools to create masterful works of their own; works that move, that inspire, that advocate, and that change lives and communities."
TEACHING STATEMENT:
The past nineteen years as a dance educator in New York City have brought me unbelievable opportunities to grow as an artist, to learn from esteemed colleagues and mentors, and to find genuine joy in teaching the craft of dance-making and dance technique. Training the next generation of dance artists thrills me. Most recently, my teaching has taken place in a Brooklyn independent school that values high-caliber training in Western dance composition and technique. It is a setting that has provided me the opportunity for creativity and innovation while teaching within a self-designed, culturally relevant curriculum. I provide comprehensive dance education that encourages students to explore their own identities, discover their personal movement affinities, and to thoroughly investigate, "Why do we dance?"
I give my students the tools to create masterful works of their own; works that move, that inspire, that advocate, and that change lives and communities. I present cross and interdisciplinary experiences and encourage projects that allow students to take full ownership of their work. Whether or not they seek a career in the arts, it is my ultimate goal to cultivate in each of my students, a life-long love and appreciation for the art of dance.
My technique class provides the opportunity for deep exploration in modern concert dance and draws from the influences of Hanya Holm, Martha Graham, and José Limón. I equip my students with the knowledge and historical context that helps them to become stronger technicians and allows them to uncover their personal aesthetics through technique. In my composition class, students are left with the awareness of not only how, but why they are making dance. Dance is a profoundly personal expression that demands deep self-evaluation of artistic choices. Teaching budding artists to identify and explore their own natural movement patterns helps them to develop unique voices as choreographers and creators of dance. In both my technique and composition classes, collaboration is paramount. I encourage students to utilize one another as they are creating and making artistic choices and not solely rely on teacher response and critique. By studying feedback systems by Larry Lavender and Liz Lerman, students learn the skills to give articulate and contextual feedback that demonstrate significant levels of analysis and evaluation in the artistic process.
My additional background as a ballet and jazz teacher, a certified yoga instructor, and Reiki Master reflects my personal interest in teaching the “whole student.” I am not only interested in inspiring young people to become great dancers and choreographers; I provide a space for students to become thinking, feeling, confident, and empathetic artists. My ultimate goal is to pass down my love of dance to future generations of artists.
Mandy Stallings is available for private, group, and master classes in modern dance technique, composition, improvisation, and yoga. For information, please contact Mandy here.
the tools to create masterful works of their own; works that move, that inspire, that advocate, and that change lives and communities."
TEACHING STATEMENT:
The past nineteen years as a dance educator in New York City have brought me unbelievable opportunities to grow as an artist, to learn from esteemed colleagues and mentors, and to find genuine joy in teaching the craft of dance-making and dance technique. Training the next generation of dance artists thrills me. Most recently, my teaching has taken place in a Brooklyn independent school that values high-caliber training in Western dance composition and technique. It is a setting that has provided me the opportunity for creativity and innovation while teaching within a self-designed, culturally relevant curriculum. I provide comprehensive dance education that encourages students to explore their own identities, discover their personal movement affinities, and to thoroughly investigate, "Why do we dance?"
I give my students the tools to create masterful works of their own; works that move, that inspire, that advocate, and that change lives and communities. I present cross and interdisciplinary experiences and encourage projects that allow students to take full ownership of their work. Whether or not they seek a career in the arts, it is my ultimate goal to cultivate in each of my students, a life-long love and appreciation for the art of dance.
My technique class provides the opportunity for deep exploration in modern concert dance and draws from the influences of Hanya Holm, Martha Graham, and José Limón. I equip my students with the knowledge and historical context that helps them to become stronger technicians and allows them to uncover their personal aesthetics through technique. In my composition class, students are left with the awareness of not only how, but why they are making dance. Dance is a profoundly personal expression that demands deep self-evaluation of artistic choices. Teaching budding artists to identify and explore their own natural movement patterns helps them to develop unique voices as choreographers and creators of dance. In both my technique and composition classes, collaboration is paramount. I encourage students to utilize one another as they are creating and making artistic choices and not solely rely on teacher response and critique. By studying feedback systems by Larry Lavender and Liz Lerman, students learn the skills to give articulate and contextual feedback that demonstrate significant levels of analysis and evaluation in the artistic process.
My additional background as a ballet and jazz teacher, a certified yoga instructor, and Reiki Master reflects my personal interest in teaching the “whole student.” I am not only interested in inspiring young people to become great dancers and choreographers; I provide a space for students to become thinking, feeling, confident, and empathetic artists. My ultimate goal is to pass down my love of dance to future generations of artists.
Mandy Stallings is available for private, group, and master classes in modern dance technique, composition, improvisation, and yoga. For information, please contact Mandy here.
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