Outreach

 OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY

 
 

“Community-based art is any art created with the purpose of engaging a particular community (defined by any geographical or demographic boundaries you see fit) into a larger dialogue with the purpose of generating positive change.”

— Global Visionaries

DANCE ACTIVITIES COURSE

In the fall of 2018, I developed and taught a course titled DAN 3111, DANCE ACTIVITIES. The course was designed to train, mentor, and support dance majors from Texas State University who wanted to work as artists and dance practitioners in the community.

Hip-Hop master class at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX.

 

  • This course is designed to train and support dancers who want to work as dance artists and dance practitioners in the community. The students in this class will be taught a variety of dance techniques by the instructor, and they will teach free dance master classes throughout the semester.

  • Students will:

    •Develop the skills and knowledge required to work in a range of community settings

    •Develop stronger teaching, artistic, technical, and leadership skills.

    •Participate in the collaborative and performance processes and learn about the relationships and responsibilities of all collaborators.

    •Create unique, challenging, and diverse dance masterclasses and performances to share in the community.

    •Learn to use choreographic principles and processes to express perceptions, feelings, images, and thoughts through dance, working alone, with a partner, or in small groups.

    •Develop a stronger sense of community, cultural sensitivity, and respect through community-based performances and teaching dance.

    •Learn how to plan community-based dance projects.

    •Achieve and demonstrate movement material that focuses on the development of flexibility, strength, control, and rhythmic acuity.

    •Learn, remember and rehearse movement sequences for masterclasses.

    •Teach movement sequences in the community.

“I’ve seen tremendous growth in my ability under her direction, so I’m sure anyone I teach in the future will too if I follow her
example.”
— Dance Activities Student
“Absolutely the best! She encourages and pushes her students to work hard and
perform to the best of our abilities.”
— Dance Activities Student

DAN 3111’s Course Evaluation Reports

Modern master class at San Marcos High School in San Marcos, TX.

Jazz master class at Chapa Middle School in Kyle, TX.

 

 MERGE IN THE COMMUNITY

 

Throughout 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, the Dance Division's Touring Dancing Ensemble, Merge, and I conducted free dance master classes for over 300 students in underprivileged communities, middle schools, and high schools in San Marcos ISD, Hays ISD, Austin ISD, and Round Rock as a means of encouraging self-awareness, inclusiveness, and empowerment.

Master class at Round Rock High School, Round Rock, TX.

 

Before our masterclass at San Marcos High School, San Marcos, TX.

“Thank you so much for coming and bringing your beautiful dancers! My students had a wonderful time and have been raving about the class all week. Thank you so much!”
— Melinda Norris, Dance Director, Round Rock ISD

Masterclass at McNeil High School, Round Rock, TX.

Masterclass at Miller Middle School, San Marcos, TX.

“We had such a wonderful time at the matinee! Thank you so much for the opportunity!”

— Cheyenne Stone, Director, Cheer Coach, McCormick Middle School, Buda, Texas

Dancers from McCormick Middle School (Buda, Texas) after the matinee.

Dancers from Wallace Middle School (Kyle, Texas)

 FREE MATINEE AT THE PATTI STRICKEL HARRISON THEATRE

In 2019 I organized an opportunity for eighty-nine aspiring dancers from San Marcos ISD, Hays ISD, and Austin ISD to attend Merge Dance Company’s free matinee at the Patti Strickel Harrison Theatre. Their teachers expressed that the majority of the students who attended the show had never been in a theatre. They left feeling inspired and ready to audition for Texas State's dance program.

Dancers from Simon Middle School (Kyle, Texas)

Merge has worked with our dancers at Simon Middle School the past three years, greatly impacting the students on this campus. Simon is a title one campus in Kyle, Texas. Most of our students are on free or reduced lunch. Our mission at Simon is to cultivate motivated and contributing citizens through broadening horizons and building confidence. Our fine arts department is dedicated in growing our youth through community involvement and opportunity.

— Sarah McCammon, Director of Dance, Simon Middle School, Kyle, Texas

 FREE MASTERCLASS ON STAGE AT THE PATTI STRICKEL HARRISON THEATRE

 

In the spring of 2019, I invited dancers from East Austin College Prep, Miller Middle School, and Mountain Valley Middle School to participate in a free master class on stage at the Patti Strickel Harrison Theatre.

Dancers from East Austin College Prep, Miller Middle School, and Mountain Valley Middle School

“Thank you so much for having my students come take class with you and the dancers! They had so much fun and are already talking about wanting to come back. You have always been such an inspiring teacher, so thank you for sharing that gift with me and my students today as well as reminding me about how beautiful dance is and what it does to us. I felt inspired and my students felt inspired.”

— Jaqueline Olivares, Dance Director, Mountain Valley Middle School, Comal ISD