A Testament to the Power of a Teaching Artist

I began thinking about Mary more frequently earlier this month when I realized it was National Poetry Month. The arts organization I work for was deciding on an activity for our after school program for “Poem in Your Pocket Day.” The brainstorming of these activities reminded me of an assignment in my modern dance class in high school. The assignment was called “I am From” and the objective was to write a prose, or poem about the things that made us who we are. They could be sensory things, I believe I used a Ninja Turtle lunch box, sand and ocean waves at some point in my lyrics. We also used events, sayings, people or instances in time that defined us. Anything really, that made us who we were. We then used these lyrics to create choreography that took us on a journey of self reflection from our childhood to who we were as 18 year olds and budding adults, to even making predictions about who would become in the world. As we gathered that evening with our parents for a very personal showing, a graduation of our own really, we were all united by the power of “I am From.” 

Of all of the artistic experiences I have had in my journey as a professional dancer, the reflection and creation of this project is one that has stayed close to me through the years.

Young ballet dancers dream of life beyond Kenyan slums

From Isha Sesay, CNN

April 13, 2011 5:43 a.m. EDT

Beautiful dance in tough neighborhood

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Poverty and crime are widespread in Nairobi's Mathare slums
• Around 40 Mathare students are taking after-school ballet classes
• School teachers say skills learned through dancing have improved pupils' concentration
• UK-based charity Anno's Africa is behind the classes

(CNN) -- In Kenya's giant Mathare slums poverty and crime are widespread. But youngsters there are getting a chance to realize their potential -- by learning ballet.
Mathare, in Nairobi, may seem like an unlikely place for ballerinas in training, but around 40 students living in the tough neighborhood take beginner lessons once a week with instructor Mike Wamaya.
"It's new and it's what they like," Wamaya explained. "And it's what they never believe they could have ever done."
The instructor says learning ballet could help change these children's lives. Read More>>

A Teaching Artist Redefines the Typical Dance Residency

Connie Proccopio is one of those rare, unique artists who’s talents are not limited only to that of performing as an artist herself. Connie is also a gifted teaching artist and choreographer who truly understands the full spectrum of the impact the arts can have on literally everyone, and uses that understanding to change lives. I have had the privilege of not only being a co-worker with Connie teaching at a private studio and watching her work with students of all ages, but have also had the opportunity to experience her powerful choreography firsthand in the rehearsal process having her set repertory on me. Connie trains dancers of the highest quality and creates choreography for everyone from professional dancers, to students within the public school system and private studios, and most interestingly within the female prison system.