Tricia Grace
Teaching Statement
Teaching dance is very important to me because I feel it is how we give back to our dance community and pass long things we have learned from past generations. Dance teachers have the very important job to teach not only technique but also historical inspiration, terminology, and artistic development. My teaching style both encourages and challenges my students. I use a lot of imagery when teaching because I feel it helps develop the movement to a higher level and it gives the dancers the ability to connect with a feeling or image beyond their bodies in space. As an instructor, I have a warm and giving spirit that engages my students; they want to learn because I am just as invested in wanting their success. At the end of the day, my goal for a class is to have each student walking away with either learning something new or being open to a different way of thinking or moving.
Tricia Grace
Slippery Rock University Guest Artist
Tricia began with Slippery Rock University as a guest artist teaching a five day long Afro Colombian dance intensive in August of 2017. She brought back movement techniques that she learned at her internship in the Indies of Cartagena, Colombia to the new performing members of Slippery Rock University's Afro Colombian Dance Ensemble. Tricia ran rehearsals with the dance company during the fall of 2017 and spring of 2018 as well accompanying the group to performances and speaking with venues about production needs. Tricia has been asked to work with the group again in the Fall of 2018 assisting with rehearsals and the company's larger performance in Pittsburgh.
Just Dance by Justine Alberts Instructor
Tricia began working as a guest with Just Dance by Justine Albert during her Senior semester at Slippery Rock University. She began as an instructor at the studio in the summer of 2017 directly after graduation. Tricia during the summers teaches stretching and conditioning for advanced age groups. For the fall and spring Tricia teaches advanced jazz and modern course work, and is expected to teach more courses in the Fall of 2018.
Slippery Rock High School
Winter Showcase
Tricia implemented Slippery Rock high school's first ever dance course. The course taught high school color guard members with little to no training dance technique and terminology. Tricia interned with the high school to develop this dance course that will now be a annual occurrence in the first half of ever school year to students that are interested in learning dance technique. The class helped the students have a greater kinesthetic awareness and the students are able to relate this knowledge in their color guard training.
Now Next Dance
Washington, D.C.
Tricia interned at the Now Next Dance intensive in Washington D.C. during the summer of 2016. At the program she served as a Moving Mentor to young dance students. The students were taught movement and visual art based on leadership projects. The program taught Tricia fundamentals of forming a structure to her dance classes as well as how to creatively ask young kids tackle and analyze issues they face on a daily basis through movement.