My Manifesto

Why I Do What I Do

At the center of my artistry and teaching is joy — not the fleeting joy of performance or applause, but the deep, sustaining joy that comes from connection, collaboration, and creation. Dance is the way I share that joy with the world. It allows me to communicate what words often cannot: hope, unity, and freedom.

 

God has given me so much joy through Jesus, and that joy fuels every part of my work as a teaching artist. My creative practice is an extension of gratitude, a response to the grace I’ve received. I don’t impose my beliefs on others, but my faith naturally shapes the way I teach, move, and lead. Through dance, I want students and audiences to experience joy that feels liberating and authentic, the kind that reminds them they are valuable, capable, and seen.

Ultimately, I create to awaken hearts. Whether it’s through hip-hop, musical theatre, ensemble or community work, I aim to cultivate spaces where people can discover joy through rhythm, movement, connection, and shared creativity.

 

Strengths and Challenges

My greatest strength lies in my ability to build community through movement. I respond intuitively to people, meeting them where they are, and adjusting my approach in real time. I love bringing out the best in others, helping them see their potential not just as dancers, but as people. The same goes for performances: I enjoy seeing the audiences happy. 

 

Reflection and communication grounds this process. When challenges arise,  creative tension, exhaustion, or self-doubt, I reflect on my work, personal life, and spiritual life. I may also communicate with people who may be able to offer me guidance, that could be colleagues, professors, pastors, and/or family members. 

 

A continuing challenge that I am embracing is finding balance between structure and freedom. Early in my career, I relied almost entirely on improvisation and energy. Over time, I’ve come to appreciate that structure creates safety, which allows freedom to flourish. My teaching philosophy now centers on structured freedom: a framework that gives direction without suffocating creativity.

 

The Communities I Serve

My work primarily serves students and emerging artists, ranging from middle school through college. Many are discovering dance for the first time or rebuilding confidence after seasons of discouragement. My goal is to make every space I teach a place of joy, a space where students can experience the freedom of movement, the strength of community, and the joy that comes from expressing themselves through dance.

 

With Memphis Belle, the youth dance team I lead, I have witnessed students transform from shy and hesitant to expressive and confident. Some joined reluctantly, disinterested in dance, but through heart-to-heart connection with me, our pastor, and one another, they found new purpose. They began connecting deeply with their peers, finding joy in movement, and discovering fulfillment in sharing that joy with audiences. These transformations affirm that dance can be a profound tool for healing, empowerment, and faith.

 

Internationally, I have taught in Haiti, South Korea, Paraguay, Togo, Benin, and beyond. Recently, members of Memphis Belle, our college students, had the opportunity to teach and perform in Côte d’Ivoire and Togo. Watching them lead with passion and grace has shown me the depth of their transformation, and how they are now paying it forward to the next generation of young dancers around the world. Regardless of language or background, dance creates instant connection. I have seen young people who began as strangers share laughter, rhythm, and storytelling, living proof that art transcends boundaries.

 

My community, then, is global: anyone seeking hope, freedom, and connection through movement.

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Core Questions and Conversation Partners

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The questions that guide my work are both artistic and spiritual:

• How can dance invite authentic joy rather than performance for approval?

• How can teaching artistry honor individual expression while nurturing community?

• How can faith and artistry coexist naturally in spaces that welcome diverse beliefs?

• How can my faith and artistry coexist naturally in spaces that share my beliefs?

• How can rhythm, groove, and ensemble practice model unity and love?

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Conversation Partners

• Dr. Douglas Risner (Wayne State University) – His research and insight into teaching artistry and dance pedagogy continue to deepen my understanding of the intersection between artmaking, education, and human connection. He has modeled what it means to be both an artist-scholar and a compassionate educator.

• Dr. Lisa Wilmot (Wayne State University) – A guiding influence in helping me articulate my teaching philosophy with clarity and integrity. Her mentorship encourages me to explore the balance between artistic freedom, academic rigor, and authentic self-expression.

• My Colleagues and Fellow Teaching Artists – The peers I collaborate and communicate with regularly, through discussions, rehearsals, and creative projects, offer invaluable feedback and perspective. Their curiosity, honesty, and generosity of thought continually push me to think deeper, enriching my artistry, teaching practice, and connection with the communities I serve.

• Artistic Mentors (Aku Kadogo, Aubrey Lynch II) – Both provide profound insight into the world of artistry, each bringing a unique perspective shaped by their experiences as performers, educators, and administrators. Through their example, I have witnessed how excellence in craft, creative leadership, and empathy in education can coexist harmoniously. Their influence reminds me that art, when rooted in purpose and care, has the power to transform lives.

 

Aspirations and Longings

I aspire to expand Memphis Belle into an international platform where dance, mindset education, and community outreach intersect. I want to develop programs that empower young students and artists to teach, choreograph, and share joy both locally and globally.

 

I also long to share my faith more openly what I do, as a living testimony of my own transformation. While I understand that not everyone shares my belief in Jesus, I have found that when I live and teach authentically, people can feel the sincerity and depth of that joy. My hope is that my work always points toward joy. I want to create dance experiences that invite reflection and connection, and for those who wish to hear my personal faith journey, I would be honored to share it, leaving them with a deeper sense of joy and inspiration from my personal experiences. 

 

What will help me fulfill these goals is partnership, collaborating with educators, organizations, and communities that value both joy and communities. I want to keep building spaces where artistry uplift people and build connections. 

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Masters of Teaching Artistry Program

The MA-TA program has helped me articulate what has long been intuitive. I now have the language to describe what happens in the studio, how joy, rhythm, imagination, and collaboration shape artistry. I have learned that teaching artistry is not only about craft but also about care: caring for the people, the process, and the purpose behind the work.

 

This program has also affirmed that my faith and scholarship can coexist. I do not have to separate my spiritual life from my academic or artistic one. Instead, I can integrate them, living proof that artistry grounded in faith can still be rigorous, inclusive, and intellectually rich.

 

Through reflection, dialogue, and mentorship, I have come to see that my teaching artistry is a calling, one rooted in service, creativity, and gratitude.

 

My Reflection

Teaching artistry, for me, is an act of joy. It’s about helping others find joy through movement, and in turn, allowing that joy to grow within myself. Every time I enter a studio, classroom, or stage, I carry the reminder that God has given me so much joy through Jesus, and that joy is not mine to keep, it is meant to be shared.

 

Whether I am leading a class in Africa, guiding a student through a new rhythm, choreographing a piece, I aim to make every interaction a joy, community, and growth. 

 

That is my mission, to spread joy and build a sense of community through dance, theatre, and faith.