Meet Ryan

I am a current junior at Oklahoma City University, obtaining a degree in Dance Pedagogy. I have been involved in various small dance and non-dance-related events while still in school. I have been in various productions with the Star Dance Company and Pep dancers, and I have also been involved in the Rep Performance group through the Ann Lacy School of Dance and Entertainment department. I have also had the pleasure to be involved in other theatre productions at the Wanda L. Bass Music School, either as a performer, co-choreographer, or assistant choreographer. I have also developed other skills while working as a marketing assistant at the Ann Lacy School of Dance and Entertainment.

I have had the privilege to work in different states with the Encore Competition group. This opportunity has given me many different connections and skills that I can apply to various other aspects of my career. I love working alongside so many amazingly talented individuals.

I found an environment where I could escape the real world and have a space for me to just exist without fear of judgment, and where I could always find positivity. That is exactly the philosophy I strive to have when I am teaching in any space. My mission is to bring joy, light, kindness, and positive energy into every space I teach.

Allowing my students to feel the freedom of self-expression without fear of judgment is the kind of classroom I want to have. When students feel comfortable enough to be themselves, that is where the real teaching begins, because they are more trusting of the constructive feedback given to them. Instead of students taking constructive feedback as something negative about their technique or dancing, which ultimately damages their self-image. Giving them a space to explore and grow not only in the dance studio but also to take what is being learned and apply it to the outside world. This is another philosophy of mine. Having good students is great, but having good humans bring more positivity to the world is even better. If the dancers can learn that in the dance studio, it can help translate into their everyday lives and allow them to make realizations such as: no one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes; it's just how you handle yourself when that happens to you or even others that matters. As well as how you might make sure not to make the same mistake twice, but to strive to be better and improve. It is also important for me to make sure the students understand the correct way to execute skills to maintain both physical and mental safety. 

This last portion of my philosophy is very important to me because keeping students safe should be the teacher’s top priority when teaching. This is important to ensure that students understand not only how to “do” the skills but also how to properly execute them, so they can be safe not only for themselves but also for others around them. However, I also want to make sure the students know the importance of not just their physical health but also their mental health. This is because a dance can be performed well physically, but if the mind is off, it can lead to physical injuries. 
As an educator of the future, my philosophy is to ensure students' safety, maintain a positive / encouraging environment, and ensure my students have freedom of self-expression when dancing.