Reflection on Module 2

Through this module and the second half of Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art by Stephen Nachmanovitch, I’ve come to see how teaching artistry and creative practice are inseparable. My work as a dance educator, choreographer, and community builder is ultimately for people, students, audiences, and communities - to bring them joy and connection. 

My teaching serves students and emerging artists from middle school through college, along with community and faith-based groups both in the U.S. and abroad. Whether in Detroit or Togo, I have seen how rhythm and collaboration build connection faster than words. Dance becomes a language of hope and joy.

Nachmanovitch’s idea that “freedom requires limits” (p. 103) echoes how I teach, structure gives students space to improvise and express authentically. His reflections on surrender (p. 140) and patience (p. 147) reminded me that artistry, like faith, grows when we trust the process. 

My mentors, my peers, and my experiences in and out of the studio, have shaped how I blend creativity, discipline, and joy in teaching. Being in the MA program has helped me to deepen my belief to use dance as both artistry and service.

Moving forward, I hope to expand my reach through free online tutorials, reels, and talks, sharing movement and joy with wider audiences. This module reminded me that teaching art and making art are not separate. As Nachmanovitch wrote, “The work we do reflects who we are” (p. 175). Teaching dance is how I live that, through movement, faith, and joy that connects us all.