Julia Burrer; photo: Vesa Loikas

Over the past three years, 100 working artists have shared their stories and career paths on this blog. One of the biggest themes to emerge is about teaching – as an opportunity to explore our movement choices and curiosities, as an income source, as a means to find dancers, and as an opportunity to develop our audiences. This summer, we will repost writing from the 100 artist profiles about teaching as well as offer you reflection questions related to your own work. Click on any name below to read an artist's full profile.

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Colleen Thomas (New York, NY)

Teaching is just an extension of my great belief in collaboration. I learn from my students as much as they learn from me. Together we make what the moment is.

Shaunna Vella (Oakland, CA)

Teach things that make you excited. Continue to be a student. Stay curious and dream big. When you are in dance classes notice things that you might want to incorporate into your own teaching. Make fun playlists and research new music. Talk to other teachers about games, prompts, and explorations they love to use. Take time to prepare classes. Once I started getting more radical about classes and less worried about teaching straight knees, it really became the best job in the world. The dance world is evolving and we must be the couriers of that change.

Tina Fehlandt (Brooklyn, NY)

Teaching is incredibly rewarding and a vocation unto itself. Not every dancer is meant to teach. Don’t do it just because you can or someone says you should. If you make this decision, then be sure to give yourself the opportunity to experience all kinds of educational situations. For example, it took some trial and error for me to discover that I didn’t enjoy teaching young children  – I greatly admire those who can – and that I really clicked with college age students regardless of their technical level.

Julia Burrer (Brooklyn, NY)

Teaching is my heart. I think I have always had a soft spot for teachers in my life. I, fortunately, through Doug [Varone]’s company have had a lot of opportunities to expand myself as a teacher. I learn something new from EVERY SINGLE class I teach. As I go through class I’m always taking note in my mind, “That didn’t really work this time. How can I rethink this?” or “That was a small success. I’m going to hold onto that idea." I know that my body will not be able to perform forever, but I do hope that I can share my thoughts and provide an environment for students to explore their own personal dance journey for as long as possible. It is one of the most rewarding moments to see that a student is taking something you are sharing, figuring it out for herself/himself, and then throwing something new back at you. We are both able to help each other grow in that way.

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