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Tag: Dance Education

The Shrew Unleashed – MFA Thesis – Dance Choreography & Performance

“The Shrew Unleashed” is a creative feminist response, in poetry and dance, to the misogynistic messages in Shakespeare’s play “The Taming of the Shrew.” It is a green show performed by five dancers and a poet in three parts: selected Shakespearean sonnets, an Audience-Participation “Spontaneous Dance Poem,” and “Wonder Woman,” a spoken-word poem. Performances for school and public audiences took place March 11-15, 2015 inside and outside the Kennedy Theatre at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Themes in the work include the power of words, empowerment, and social justice.

The Practice of Ballet, an Art if Living – BA in Philosophy Thesis

In this piece I will explore the uniqueness of ballet technique as a practice that extends the virtue of dancers to their audience, using the philosophical framework of Aristotle, Alasdair MacIntyre, and Elaine Scarry as well as my own experience in dance.

Anatomy & Kinesiology Resources for Dancers – Teaching Artist’s Reference Collection – Human Movement Analysis

The parent of a curious, talented, and hardworking young ballet student asked me recently what resources I recommend for dancers to learn more about topics such as Anatomy, Kinesiology, Movement Science, and Injury-Prevention. They had noticed some of my articles on Movement Analysis and Sustainable, Mindful Movement and wanted to see what further tools I might know of.

Empower International Women’s Day & Women’s History Month with A Blythe Coach

Happy Women’s History Month in March and International Women’s Day Sunday March 8th, 2026!

We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out positive action.
Collective activism is what drives change. From grassroots action to wide-scale momentum, we can all Give To Gain.

Twenty 26s in 2026: Analog Project Planning & Action Tracking, Creative Bullet Journal Style

This is a flip-through of my Annual Collections Book for 2026 so far, including my Twenty 26s in 2026 projects, creative challenges planned, notes and memories along the way.

Loosely arranged according to my 8 major focus areas; Read, Write, Create, Practice, Serve, Connect, Sustain, and Adventure; in this way I get a somewhat holistic picture of my intentions and goals for the year. I focus on actions I can take, then see what results occur. Then I reflect, recommit or change direction, and carry on creating!

Philosophy for Children in a Dance Context – p4c teaching applications to performing arts education

What role can “gently Socratic” philosophical inquiry play in the context of performing arts education?I consider myself fortunate to have had the honor of participating in Dr. Thomas Jackson’s PHIL 492: Philosophy with Children (p4c) course in the Spring of 2015, one of the last courses in my work towards my MFA in Dance. The concepts and techniques have continued to prove valuable over time, so I wanted to share as a resource for fellow educators, performing artists, and dancers.

Be Buoyant like a Butterfly – Flights of Fancy – Airy Inspiration Roundup

Light as a feather, fluttering in springtime and summer, having had encounters with butterflies in just about every place I have been, I always feel blessed by their gentle presence. Butterfly, Schmetterling, Farfalle, Papillon…I love their many names, their movements, the science and the mystery behind their lifecycles. My late ex mother in law Janine […]

Emancipatory Dance – Dancing Intersectional Feminism

This article was originally part of my Theory and Criticism work for my MFA in Dance in 2014, and critical pedagogy and artistic practice continues to be relevant to my teaching, coaching, and creative practice over a decade later.

My perspective has continued to expand with my maturation, experience, and ongoing education, so articulating my philosophy and approach is an ongoing challenge.

Since my graduate school years, I’ve made updates based on my qualitative in-studio encounters and from others who wish to honor the tradition of dance, including classical ballet, while also supporting the whole dancer and society in a contemporary context.

Real Criticism – Fraught to Fabulous, Fine to Fugly Feedback Examples

Recently I shared a new workshop called “Fine Feedback: How to Give & Receive Constructive Criticism & Promote Dance in the Process” with a group of talented dancers & choreographers at West Hawai’i Dance Theatre.

Content included practicing a host of powerful tools for distinguishing fact, interpretation, empowering & disempowering input about our creative work.

During the workshop, I shared examples like the ones I read off index cards in this video, from fabulous to fraught, words of feedback I’ve heard and received in the context of dance technique, performance, choreography, and even publishing on YouTube…

Fine Feedback Workshop – How to Give & Receive Constructive Criticism & Promote Dance in the Process

In the “Fine Feedback” workshop, dancers and choreographers will learn tools to solicit, evaluate, and provide high-quality critique, practice distinctions, and come away with supportive structures that can be applied to future dancemaking.

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