Career Research : I Became A Dance Teacher

It seems like I have been waiting years for my letter to come in the mail. Just last month I sent out my application to see if I can get into Juilliard School of Dance, in New York. I live in Springfield, Massachusetts. Juilliard is where only pro dancers, the best of the best, the real shining stars can get into. Ballet has been my passion since I could walk. If I don’t get in, my life is over! All I want to do in life is perform, not sitting down having to fill out paperwork the whole day in a crowded office, or stuck behind a fryer, serving greasy, crusty food to ungrateful customers. Ballet is my escape from that.

I have been dancing since the age of two. When asked about my career aspirations, there is no hesitation before saying “I want to be a dancer.” Being a dancer means putting all other distractions aside, and focusing on my craft. Currently, I dedicate over forty hours a week to dance, which is a schedule that requires sacrifice. When I am dancing, the rest of the world fades away, slipping out of my mind with relaxed importance. For that moment in time, I am completely free, wholly focused on my goals, letting me know dance is what I’m meant to do. With this realization comes a responsibility to myself and the work I have put into improving my craft thus far, and I know I must seek out the best opportunities for growth and continued learning.

I have participated in many different activities and sports over the years, but the one that has stuck with me the most is dance. I started dancing when I was only seven years old, and went on to join a competitive dance team for four years. Dancing has given me many opportunities, such as being part of a team, performing, competing, and the chance to express myself through movement. Participating in dance for so many years gave me the chance to volunteer as an assistant to some of the younger dancers at my dance school, which allowed me to gain leadership skills such as communication and commitment, as well gain teaching experience. At my middle school last year, I was a co-president of the student council, and my job was to lead weekly meetings with the younger students at my school, also contributing to my leadership background.

Since I recognized my passion I have thought about what career I can pursue that will give me the most satisfaction. Even Though I half expect to change my mind a half dozen more times before I get to graduate and start to work on my masters… I think I want to pursue dance therapy. The best way to describe what it, is that it is an adaptation of movement

I danced for 12 years at a professional ballet company. Five of those years, I trained under the instruction of a director named Elie. He yelled incessantly, was bad-tempered, and could make a room full of people cry faster than you would ever think possible. However, despite his shortcomings, Elie was a brilliant instructor.

When choosing a job to apply to Piagetian theory and sociocultural theory, I chose the position of a dance teacher. Children of all ages join dance companies, and the experiences and interactions from this activity can have a great effect on their development. After dancing for so many years I have first hand experience on how it can influence a developing child. These two theories are important when understanding the ways in which a child develops, and this paper will focus on how a dance teacher can aid the development of their students using some of the information from these theories.

As a child, academics always came easily to me. While it was wonderful to be able to excel while putting in very little effort, I wasn’t so blessed when it came to physical challenges. My attempts at playing soccer, riding a bicycle, and playing an instrument all resulted in countless amounts of frustration as I didn’t immediately succeed. Nevertheless, I always had my eye on one particular goal: becoming a dancer. I always envied the grace and fluidity in which dancers moved while I was a short, heavy, and clumsy child.

Playing the violin is one of my best talents. First, I had to practice a numerous amount of minutes to make it to where I am. Second, it’s a great way to meet new people. Lastly, I couldn’t have done it without my Mom. Playing the violin is one of my skills, I worked hard, became more social, and got supported by my Mom.

My dream was to become one of the principal dancers at a big professional company, still I didn’t believe her and thought it didn’t matter how much work I put in, or how hard I tried, I would just never be good enough.

Between the ages of 6 and 12 I wanted to purse a variety of careers. I can always remember wanting to be a dancer and a singer. I believed both occupations were a strong possibility for me because I knew I had a good voice and even better dance skills. My dance teachers, as well as numerous family members, always complimented my choreography, my passion, and my skill for dance. Also, I always sang at family functions and events and I enjoyed all the compliments I received. At some point I took a liking to teaching because I loved school so much. I often played “school” by myself, as I enjoyed creating assignments.

There is no better feeling than making another person happy through my own hard work and dedication, and I have experienced that euphoric feeling as a result of my volunteer work throughout my high school career. Having participated and been a leader in many service projects and activities, I have been constantly inspired to continue my dedication to helping others. I want to make a difference in people’s lives and, in turn, be inspired by the happiness and optimism of the individuals I will encounter.

During my freshman in college I ventured off into doing my own work. I first landed my teaching opportunities at the Salvation Army Kroc Center and the Historical Attucks Theater in Norfolk, VA. I worked with both children and adults and I've also had the pleasure to work with children at risk and children with physical and mental disabilities. From this teaching experience I began to structure teaching my teaching philosophy. I was moved by the unique individual qualities and community that we devolved together in these spaces. I was able to recognize the importance of individuality in dance and how

At an early age, my parents enrolled me in dance and piano lessons. They wanted me to be a “child prodigy” that had numerous talents. Since, both my parents were foreigners, they never had the opportunity to do activities such as this. Therefore, it was important to them that I did the things that never got to do. I never liked the idea but, as my father always told me “No knowledge is wasted”. So, I just went along with it. As I grew, I dropped piano lessons but stuck with dance. However, I had bigger passions than dance, and that was science.

Growing up, I’ve always had an eye for the art of dance. When I was five years old I was a part of many dance teams in school and church. From dancing to helping others, I have always been involved in the dance world. For my future career, I’d love to become a professional dance teacher at the Visual Arts School. If I could help out at the Dance Place internship, I know that I would show just how ready I am for my future. The most important reason I would make a great intern at the Dance Place is because of my experience with being a captain, coaching, and teaching.

The dance community that surrounds me has been the most impactful in my life. My mother first signed me up for dance classes when I was only four years old, and now almost fifteen years later I am still dancing. I started out at a dance studio in Gresham, Oregon, where I then danced for ten years. I took classes, performed, and started competing against other dancers and studios around when I was nine years old. It didn’t hit me that I enjoyed performing until I started dancing in more and more shows. Dance was a struggle for many years at this specific studio. There was a lot of moves that I couldn’t do, and I got left behind, as the other dancers my age improved and became more flexible. I felt like I owed the teachers, staff, and other