Philosophy
I believe that the study of dance goes beyond the meeting of the mind and the body. Dance sees the meeting of the body, mind, and soul and involves an education of the whole person. Pursuing mastery in the discipline gives insight into the unlimited capabilities of the human body, as well as the skills needed to articulate descriptions of physical, emotional, and spiritual phenomena that occur in creative work. Dance in general has a long-standing tradition of embracing inclusive ideologies and a tolerance of experimental or alternative lifestyles, as represented by figures in its history, who have challenged the boundaries of gender, sexuality, class, and race. In this way, my pedagogical approach fits with ideals associated with a pluralistic orientation and the pursuit of social justice. It is from this seed that dance curriculum must grow, not only as a creative physical outlet or performance art, but as a discipline that reflects students’ understanding of our collective experiences in the world, and inspires them to become agents for democratic change in our society.
Loyola University Chicago
Currently on faculty as a lecturer at Loyola University Chicago, Amy teaches a wide range of courses including beginning to advanced level ballet, as well as intro level jazz classes, dance pedagogy, dance composition, and kinesiology. Recently, Amy was one of eight finalists nominated by the student body as Faculty Member of the Year for her commitment to instruction, student development, and innovative programming.