LITA

I have been very focused on dance projects towards the community lately (as you can tell). Among my teaching and club initiating is my contribution in the community. I have been in contact with a non-profit organization called LITA (Love Is The Answer), which provides entertainment for senior care facility centers. I volunteered to gather a group and perform dance routines for the seniors, so they are exposed to the arts and can feel enlightened. Also, it is almost Halloween, so the LITA representative I've been emailing suggested we dress up in costumes for our performance :) This will be such a great and fun experience for me, as it still relates to something I love doing while also helping brighten up some peoples' days. After our performances, we will get the chance to talk with the seniors and exchange stories. I love hearing and learning about other peoples' lives, so I can't wait until everything is finalized and I am able to visit the senior care facility center. I am still in the process of determining details in my performances, but I'll try and keep this blog updated.

Teaching

Lately, I have been extremely busy with not only schoolwork and dance rehearsals, but also teaching dance. I have about three students that consist of younger kids at my studio who would like more practice with their technique and other skills. I have been teaching two of them, Tabitha and Kylie, for about 9 months now, and I recently acquired a new student named Allie. So far, Tabitha's and Kylie's moms have seen a significant amount of improvement in their daughters, which makes me very happy to hear. This dance season, Kylie has been getting lots of recognition for her improvement, and it can be seen in her front-and-center placement in many of her dances. I've also seen Tabitha grow and develop in her technique as well, and she is more personality-driven than Kylie, which is essential to performing. Usually, the two of them take private lessons together, so they can watch and inspire each other. They are wonderful kids, and I am so lucky to be doing what I love, while also helping others.

Also, I have a dance class at my school, which I take for PE credit. I am placed in Dance 5, which is the highest level at my school, and a few older dancers from my studio are also in that class. We choreograph pieces and teach them to our classmates to prepare for our two dance shows. This helps enhance my dancing skills even more, as I get to discover my choreography style and learn the styles of others. My teacher asked me to teach the Dance 3 and 4 students, which I am stoked about. It will be interesting to see how I will teach older kids, as opposed to the younger kids I am working with. I will have to explore many methods of teaching and find the one that is most beneficial to the dancers. I will update more on this when I start teaching the older students, which is next week.

Dance Daze

This month, I have decided to team up with an organization called Dance Daze to help give underprivileged children the opportunity to dance. I've started a chapter of this organization on my campus, and I am in the process of finalizing my new club. I am so excited to be working for such a great cause, and the other members and I have so many ideas for fundraising, etc. This will certainly be a learning experience, as I get to work with younger kids and help them learn the basics of dance. I can't wait to see the development of their technique and knowledge, and I also am looking forward to seeing the smiles on their faces when they get the chance to learn how to dance.

If you are interested in also being an advocate for this organization, you can find their website here: www.dancedazeinschools.org