Shane's Teaching Philosohpy

"I work to lead my students to be informed and critical of their art form and to push the boundaries of what has been done before..."

As a professional dance artist and a university arts educator, my philosophy of teaching is based on some core principles of creativity.  One primary focus is to challenge my students to find their own creative voices and pathways.   I want to create an atmosphere in the studio and classroom where they can make the necessary mistakes that will lead to greater breakthroughs.  I work to lead my students to be informed and critical of their art form and to push the boundaries of what has been done before.  I lead my students to be “risk takers”, not only in the classroom but also in all their artistic pursuits.  The live performing arts of the 21st century will only survive with passionate, risk taking leaders.  They will engage the new forms of digital communication as an ally and will utilize these processes to enrich the live performance experience instead of tear it down. They will use the tools of social media to promote and produce their artistic projects.  They will find the pathways to collaborate and interact with the local and global community in fusing together new creative hybrids. 

As a teacher, I am constantly reengaging myself as a facilitator and mentor.  As an educator for dance students, I keep emphasizing that the role of “Dance” is not only discovered in the studio and on stage.  In my position as Coordinator of Dance at James Madison University I worked hard to develop this open view on what a career in dance can be.   From our BA based degree program, we have alumni presently working as professional performers, choreographers and company directors.  But we also have alumni that are physical therapists, arts administrators, non-profit organizers, and movement teachers working with a wide range of diverse populations.  Even the professional performers have developed significant “full-time/part-time jobs” such as certified Pilates and Yoga instructors, technical theater professionals, grant writers and web-based site developers to help pay the bills.  This is the reality of the 21st performance artist and I have been the leader in this area of career service for our senior students.  A degree in the arts provides the student with important skills in critical thinking, inter-personal communication, collaborative work techniques and viewpoints into cultural diversity.

The arts are changing at a faster pace than ever before in history.  Pushed on by the development of digital technology our students are processing information in a new way and as educators it is our job to stay ahead of the curve.  I have worked extensively in looking at new innovative pedagogies that address these changes with continuous learning projects both on campus and off.  Every other summer I direct the “JMU London Intensive on Contemporary Dance and Performance” study abroad program.  I created this program in 2004.  This intensive provides our students the opportunity to study new forms of dance in London and also to view cutting edge performances from around the world. This program has also provided a cultural connection between British training centers such as The Place, Trinity Laban Conservatoire and RADA.  It has also facilitated guest artist choreographic residencies at JMU.  I took students to China with  “The JMU Sichuan Dance Project”.  This trip was a student centered artistic and cultural exchange to Sichuan Province with performing art departments at Chengdu University, the Aba College, and the Guangya International School.  The development of these types of international projects are essential for performing arts departments in order to connect both faculty and students to contemporary artistic global perspectives.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that the live stage arts are finding a renaissance in new collaborative approaches that are creating inventive connections between all the arts.  I am excited about the possibility of leading a group of dedicated faculty who are committed to their traditions but eager to investigate new artistic adventures in their productions and teaching.