On my way to New York City

The past few months have been very full, as I have continued teaching at Appomattox Regional Governor's School for the Arts and Virginia State University while reading for my qualifying exams.  Additional exciting events:

• October: I presented with a former student, Mekinzey Parks, at the NDEO annual conference.  We shared our experience developing dance programs in public schools through the AmeriCorps Teacher Fellowship program.
• November: I traveled to Nazareth College in Rochester, NY to teach master classes and perform a solo choreographed by Utah artist, Sara Gallo, in the annual Movement and Dance Festival.
• January: My newest work, The River Runs Deep premiered in Dogwood Dance Project's annual concert at Dogtown Dance Theatre.  We were selected to perform the work in April in the Richmond Dance Festival.  Watch here for updates on the festival.
• February: I certified as a Shin® Somatics Yoga teacher. 

Coming soon:

In June I will travel to New York City to present at the NDEO/ISMETA Emerging Pathways in Somatic Movement and Dance Education conference.  I am excited to discuss Eastwest Institute's Shin® Somatics as a practical method with a panel of my peers.  I will also present my early thoughts about how Deleuzian philosophy might be exemplified in and press against the boundaries of, Eastwest Shin® Somatics.

Upcoming articles, recent presentations, and more.

This past year has been full of change as I relocated to Virginia to be closer to family while I completed coursework for my PhD in Dance through Texas Woman's University.  I am honored to currently serve as the Modern Dance Specialist for Appomattox Regional Governor's School for the Arts.  I also teach Modern technique, dance appreciation and dance conditioning at Virginia State University.  These institutions offer many opportunities to share dance with a diverse student population while continually improving my pedagogy.

In other news, I presented my current research on Shin Somatics as embodied experience of Deleuzian duration at the 6th Annual Somatics Conference in Geneva, NY.  Prior to the conference, I was fortunate to dance with gifted educators hailing from all parts of the US, refreshing my understanding of Bill Evans Technique.  I returned from the experience refreshed and excited to share new and re-membered ideas with my students.

My most recent article, "Dance Scholarship and Community Engagement: A Literature Review of the Journal of Dance Education," appeared in volume 18, issue 2 of the Journal of Dance Education. You may also want to keep an eye out for my upcoming article, "Shin Somatics Contact Unwinding: Developing Mindfulness Through Interpersonal Relationship." You will find it in the December issue of the Journal of Dance and Somatic Practices. This will be my UK premiere!

Coming Soon:
Dogwood Dance Project has commissioned me to create a new work for their upcoming concert.  I am excited and honored to work with the company.  I will post updates as we begin the dance.


Please check back for updates as I continue researching Shin Somatics and the French post-structuralist philosopher, Gilles Deleuze.

Article on Tap Dance Pedagogy is Out!

My article, "Meter and Musicality in Tap Class" is out in the Journal of Dance Education.  The in-practice article explores practical ways to teach musicality through tap.  Please access it at http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/rFEQGkhBY9uyRqHivYfm/full. 

Traveling to Zion

I will return to Utah for a week in December.  I am presenting at the EastWest Somatics Conference in Zion National Park in Springdale, UT.  Consider attending!  More information: http://www.eastwestsomatics.com/conferences.php.

Upcoming Articles

I have two articles about to be published in the Journal of Dance Education.  The first, "Meter and Musicality in Tap Class," addresses practical methods for teaching tap dance musicality through the use of multiple meters.  I offer specific examples, and support the success of my methods through student reflection.  The article is slated to appear in a fall issue.  Exact date TBA.

The second article is a literature review of the journal as it addresses community dance practice.  Look for "Dance Scholarship and Community Engagement: A Literature Review of the Journal of Dance Education," in the near future.

If you do not currently subscribe to the Journal, please consider joining the National Dance Education Organization and receiving a free subscription with your membership.  Learn more at NDEO.org.

Book reviews are out

The Journal of Dance Education recently published a couple book reviews I wrote. Please use the following links to check them out.

Isadora Duncan and the 21st Century


Dance Science: Anatomy, Movement Analysis, Conditioning

A new article is on the way.

I am very excited to announce that my newest article, "Meter and Musicality in Tap Class" has just been accepted for publication in the Journal of Dance Education.  Stay tuned to discover which issue it will be published in.