Philosophy
Rigor, collaboration, and innovation in the performing arts is something I greatly admire; I value fostering critical thinking skills as a foundation for dance, bringing the whole person to the studio within the practice. As a dance educator, I value honoring my students, challenging their learning, and improving my own practice. I am constantly aiming to decolonize my pedagogy to remain socially conscious and I strive to create and maintain learning environments that are diverse, inclusive, and safe for all students. Above all, I cherish the one-on-one relationship I cultivate with each of my students as I guide them to think critically on their own while discovering their unique artistic voice.
Choreography
Composition classes are based in structured improvisation as I pull dancers to discover how they move authentically. We discuss elements of dance and how to approach this in a unique way, while referencing work that focuses on space, shape, time, and dynamics as collaborators. Students are required to work with students in Creative Arts to inspire and create their final choreographic work.
Technique
There is a strong sense of physicality in my classroom: getting into each crevice of the body, searching for new more efficient ways of moving. The dialogue I foster is centered in imagery and strategy. My contemporary technique is based on suspension, fall & recovery, as well as deconstructing codified movement patterns. I believe that explorative movement phrasing allows students to dig deep into the process.
Interdisciplinary Work
Working with other artists is exciting for me as a choreographer and a teacher. It is incredibly inspiring for me to collaborate with different disciplines integrating methods across mediums. This collaborative process is at the center of my work as a creator.
Sydney Sorenson 