About My Dance Week:

Once a month, an artist sketches out or writes out (literally) his/her week. One of the hardest things for a young dancer to envision is what a weekly schedule might look like – fitting in paying work, teaching, rehearsing, performing, training, family, friends, relaxation, and more. In particular, since the majority of modern dancers will teach in some capacity, how much teaching makes for "full-time?" Plus, "teaching" includes class time and also prep time. 

How do we balance our dance and non-dance life?

Please join us once a month as we look at different dancers' schedules and ways to balance a life in dance. 

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The day in the life of a Dance Specialist and Teacher:

My name is Ashley Boyack. My week is pretty full during the school year. I felt I needed to give a little background before I share my schedule. I have a BFA in Modern Dance form the University of Utah and a Masters in Arts and Teaching form the University of Northern Colorado. I work in 4 different environments throughout the week. My primary job is to teach dance education at Redwood Elementary in Salt Lake City. I also teach at the University of Utah Tanner Dance Program. I teach Dance 326 at Brigham Young University (BYU), which is a dance methods class for classroom teachers. Last, I am a Professional Development Partner with the Beverly Taylor Arts and Learning Program. This last job has me overseeing the dance specialists that work in the schools in the University of Utah region. I am also just finishing my ARL. This is a program that allows me to get a teaching license to teach dance in the public schools.

I try to exercise whenever I am not completely exhausted. I enjoy running, every opportunity I can, to get outside and run in the early mornings. I have an incredible spouse who picks up all the loose ends of home life. Without him, I could not do it all. 

In my free time I enjoy running, and gardening. I love spending time with my four children and my husband playing games, swimming and watching movies.  

Schedule: 

Monday: 

7am Leave for Redwood School 

7:15-8:45 PLAN

8:45-9:30 5^th grade dance 

9:30-10:15 4^th grade

10:15-11:00 2^nd grade

11:00-11:45 2^nd grade

11:45-12:15 LUNCH

12:15-1:00 more planning time

1:00-1:45 2^nd grade

1:45-2:30 1^st grade

2:30-3:20 1^st grade

3:35-4:00 drive to University of Utah to teach at Tanner Dance

4:30-6:00 teach 34 students in the 4^th grade CDT class at Tanner Dance

6:00-6:30 head home

Tuesday: 

7am Leave for Redwood School 

7:15-8:45 PLAN

8:45-9:30 Kindergarten

9:30-10:15 4^th grade

10:15-11:00 3^rd grade

11:00-11:45 plan

11:45-12:15 LUNCH

12:15-1:00 5^th grade

1:00-1:45 kindergarten

1:45-2:30 5^th grade

2:30-3:20 1^st grade

3:35-5:00 Drive to Brigham Young University and prepare for class

5:00-7:30 Teach at BYU

Arrive home around 8:30pm

Wednesday:

7am Leave for Redwood School 

7:15-8:45 PLAN

8:45-9:30 5^th grade dance

9:30-10:15 4^th grade

10:15-11:00 6^th grade

11:00-11:45 kindergarten

11:45-12:15 LUNCH

12:15-1:00 more planning time

1:00-1:45 3^rd grade

1:45-2:30 3^rd grade

2:30-3:20 3^rd grade

3:35-4:00 travel to my ARL class

4:00-7:30 ARL class at the Granite School District

8:00 Arrive home

Thursday:

9:00 am: This is the day I work for the Beverly Taylor Arts and Learning Program. I go and visit the elementary schools in the University of Utah region and give feedback to teachers. I also coordinate and prepare for teacher in-service meetings for schools. I conduct professional development for dance teachers and schools. I email other dance specialists to find out their needs. 

I also try to do a little planning for my other lessons as well.

3:45 Travel to the University of Utah to teach 4^th grade CDT Tanner Dance class

6:00 finish teaching and travel home. 

Friday:

7am Leave for Redwood School 

7:15-8:45 PLAN

8:45-9:30 6^th grade

9:30-10:15 4^th grade

10:15-11:00 6^th grade

11:00-11:45 kindergarten

11:45-12:15 LUNCH

12:15-1:05 1^st grade

1:05-3:30 plan and prepare for the next week of classes

Saturday:

Times vary….

I plan for my BYU class. I do grades and work on my CDT class as well. I often have rehearsals for CDT that run about 2 to 3 hours depending on the time of year. 

I then try to enjoy soccer games and swimming meets for my four boys. I also get house work done.

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