Artist Biography
As a dancer, I believe in hard work, but I also believe in the enjoyment movement brings. As an aspiring educator, there are lots of expectations and pressures that can seem overwhelming. My goal is to use those pressures to create art. To use that stress and anxiety and turn it into something beautiful. I would like to use all the knowledge I have gained and work to shape dancers, musicians, actors, visual artists that will cultivate a passion. My hope is that they never forget the beautiful impact the arts can have. I want my students to become strong on the inside and out, to acknowledge the beauty they have within, and explore it through their art. My mission as an arts administrator will be to strengthen through a love of self and love of the arts. I want what I teach to be relevant in all areas of their life. I hope that they will conserve the imagination that we only see as children and carry it forever.
Thesis Abstract
Love is an umbrella term. In the words of author and social changer Bell Hooks, love is defined “as an act of will, both an intention and an action, love is the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.” When creating my own working definition of this term there are words and ideals like, empathy and compassion come to mind. These qualities are also seen in some of the greatest teachers and mentors of my life. It is because of love that I have developed this thesis exploration titled “Love Embodied.” This thesis exploration works to identify these similarities and the ways in which we as individuals can embody these qualities. In a series of four guided movement and reflective sessions dancers and not alike were given the opportunity to reflect in discussional, movement, and creative exercises. Guiding my research were some written and published works by authors, Parker J. Palmer, Cynthia Winton Henry, Pat B. Allen, Terrelle B. Sales, and Thomas E. Phillips. Other influences come from master teachers and choreographers like Kara Fili and Julie Pike-Edmond, and personal mentors of mine like Sylvia Petriccione. Each of these sessions were inspired but the idea that each person can embody love in a way that is transferable to those around us and to our students. As a reflection of my findings, I will be performing a choreographed piece in response to the voice recordings of my class participants.