Life as a Modern Dancer

Category: Blog Series: Becoming a Teaching Artist

  • Inclusive Rules: Teachers Can Learn about Integrated Dance

    Nadia Adame (left) and JanpiStar (right). Photo by Nick Flagg. Inclusive Rules: Teachers Can Learn about Integrated DanceBy Camryn Eaglin Inclusivity. A word that many have discussed probably more than they’ve practiced. How are dance educators actively creating an inclusive and accessible environment in their classrooms? Inclusivity doesn’t stop at race, gender, or sexuality but…

  • Culture & the Dance Educator: Online Course on Anti-Racist Dance Teaching

    Dr. Nyama McCarthy-Brown (right) in conversation with a colleague.   Culture & the Dance Educator: Online Course on Anti-racist Dance Teaching By Camryn Eaglin Online learning opportunities in the dance community are far from scarce this summer, and although they often call for young dance students, there is one focused on developing dance teachers. A…

  • On teaching dance: What we wish to hear, what we hope you feel as a student

    On teaching dance: What we wish to hear, what we hope you feel as a student By Jill Randall My head and heart have been full lately after a series of wonderful dance classes these past few weeks. I love being a teacher, and I love being a lifelong learner in weekly classes. Thank you…

  • Springtime Musings on Teaching and Learning: Or, Where My Mind and Heart Are with Teaching Modern Dance These Days

    Image above pulled from the 2017 Dance+Change project through Life as a Modern Dancer. Read about the project and view all 12 images here. Graphic design by Jenny Lederer.   Springtime Musings on Teaching and LearningOr, Where My Mind and Heart Are with Teaching Modern Dance These Days By Jill Randall Over the years on…

  • Artist Profile #174: Mary Carbonara (San Francisco, CA)

    Mary Carbonara. Photo by Weidong Yang   Hometown: Englewood, New Jersey Current city: San Francisco, California Age: 54 Attended an arts high school? No, but we had a dance teacher, dance studio, a contemporary dance company and a robust musical theater department on campus. I was able to take dance during school several days a…

  • Artist Profile #172: Joan Lazarus (Greenbrae, CA)

    Photo:  Lorelei Ghanizadeh Voorsanger   Hometown:  Born in Champaign/Urbana, Illinois. Raised in metro Boston. Family from NYC. Current city: Greenbrae, CA Age: 68 College and degree: B.A. Independent Learning in Psycholinguistics — Speech Perception and Language Acquisition (Indiana University, Bloomington) Graduate school and degree: M.A. Dance (University of Oregon, Eugene); M.A. Arts Administration (Golden Gate…

  • Eight Free and Downloadable Options on Life as a Modern Dancer

      From Blog Director Jill Randall: Happy December! This is the time of year when I wrap up, review, and reflect about the blog, not into year 8! Today I wanted to share a variety of free and downloadable projects that you might like to use this week or this coming semester. —– Technique Journal…

  • New to Subbing Modern Technique Classes for Adults and Teens? 10 Tips to Share

    Jill Randall. Photo by Tony Nguyen. From Blog Director Jill Randall: This post is dedicated to my colleague Julia. This week was a fun moment to reflect back on my 22 year old self and the first modern technique classes I subbed at Shawl-Anderson Dance Center in Berkeley, CA. (Thank you to Dana Lawton for…

  • Speaking as a Teaching Artist: Five Bay Area Artists Share Perspectives (Lauren Simpson, Kathleen Hermesdorf, Charles Slender-White, and Kristin Damrow)

    From Blog Director Jill Randall: During the past year, these five San Francisco Bay Area artists have shared Artist Profiles on Life as a Modern Dancer. Today, I pulled together their thoughts around the art of teaching. Click on each artist's name to read their full Artist Profile. Lauren Simpson teaching "Practice, Process, Research: Defining Terms and…

  • How Can I Practice Dance Technique Without Being Frustrated by Learning Steps?

    Photo: Yi Chun Wu How Can I Practice Dance Technique Without Being Frustrated by Learning Steps? (OR: How Can I Teach Dance Technique Without Choreography?) By Suzanne Beahrs In order to practice dance technique effectively, it helps to alternate our attention between learning steps and biomechanics. Guided improvisation can help us focus more on how…