Today we are featuring our Student Teachers in our latest edition of “Getting to Know You”!  The student teachers are part of Dance Connection’s Teacher Training Program and student teach in our classes each week.

Dance Connection believes in providing a warm, safe, and professional atmosphere where each student is cared for within the Dance Connection family. We are proud to also offer a Teacher Training Program to our more serious students. It is a forum for students to gain training in teaching as well as job responsibility. Enrollment in our Teacher Training Program will provide members with the highest standard of mentoring and guidance. Dance Connection is strongly committed to enriching and nourishing the future teachers and citizens of our community. Regardless of your future career path, Dance Connection feels confident that all members of the Teacher Training Program will leave our program having learned the important life skills of: respect, responsibility, accountability, discipline, confidence, and professionalism.

• Allison Bradley
• Sarah Davidman
• Ashley Flyntz
• Nyomi Jurado
• Melissa Kinnear
• Jessica Manziak
• Stephanie Manziak
• Dejia Solomon

Allison Bradley

Student Teacher

1. What’s your favorite food? My favorite food is pizza.
2. What’s your favorite subject in school? My favorite subject in school is science.
3. What do you like about being a dancer? What I like about being a dancer is that I can show my emotions though dancing and it makes me feel good about myself.
4. What made you want to join the teacher training program? I have always loved kids and baby’s ever since I was little and also my older sister taught on this program first and that also made me want to teach as well.
5. What’s something from dance that’s helped you in school or somewhere else in your life? Something from dance that has helped me in my life is Miss Mary, she is always there for you and you can talk to her about everything. She is a great dance teacher but she also teaches you some really important life lessons.

Sarah Davidman

Student Teacher

1. What’s your favorite food? My favorite food is pasta.
2. What’s your favorite subject in school? My favorite subject in school is psychology.
3. What do you like about being a dancer? What I like about being a dancer is I can be free and Express my emotions and feelings in a way no one else can. I love dancing on stage and letting all the hard work pay off and enjoying the moment.
4. What made you want to join the teacher training program? I joined the teacher training program because the idea of teaching and showing the children what I love is out of this world. When I found out I would have the chance to do that I already fell in love. When I went into my first class 7 years ago I knew this was something I’d love forever and I was right because there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t fell blessed to be apart of this program and have such an amazing privilege. Seeing those kids eyes light up when they get a move right brightens my day.
5. What’s something from dance that’s helped you in school or somewhere else in your life? Learning how to never give up and going to the fullest. Knowing that going that one little extra will have amazing results. In whatever situation I’m in or conflict I just think about when I’m in dance.

Ashley Flyntz

Student Teacher

1. What’s your favorite food? My favorite food is pasta.
2. What’s your favorite subject in school? My favorite subject in school is art for design.
3. What do you like about being a dancer? I love being a dancer because of the new people I meet and for being on stage.
4. What made you want to join the teacher training program? I wanted to join the teach training program because I loved all my dance teachers when I was little and wanted to become one myself.
5. What’s something from dance that’s helped you in school or somewhere else in your life? Learning at Dance Connection gave me the ability to be in my school dance team.

Nyomi Jurado

Student Teacher

1. What’s your favorite food? My favorite food is anything home cooked!
2. What’s your favorite subject in school? My favorite subject in school is math. 
3. What do you like about being a dancer? What I like about being a dancer is the way I can express my emotions through the art of dance. Dance requires the skill of balance and flexibility which I love to continue to keep working on. 
4. What made you want to join the teacher training program? The teacher training program teaches me responsibility along with learning how to organize a dance class. 
5. What’s something from dance that’s helped you in school or somewhere else in your life? Dance has shown me how to prioritize my life schedule. In order for me take the amount of classes I do, my parents and I have agreed that as long as school remains the number 1 priority and I keep my grades up, I am allowed to take my dance classes.

Melissa Kinnear

Student Teacher

1. What’s your favorite food? My favorite food is chocolate.
2. What’s your favorite subject in school? My favorite subject in school is Child Development/Parenting.
3. What do you like about being a dancer? What I like about being a dancer is getting to express myself in any style of dance when words are inefficient.
4. What made you want to join the teacher training program? I wanted to join the teacher training program because I wanted to help ones who are younger then me and watch them grow as the year goes on.
   
5. What’s something from dance that’s helped you in school or somewhere else in your life? Something that I learned in dance that has helped me is that it is ok to ask questions and to ask for guidance from others.

Jessica Manziak

Student Teacher

1. What’s your favorite food? Cheeseburger
2. What’s your favorite subject in school? Math
3. What do you like about being a dancer? Being on stage and seeing people excited about my performance.
4. What made you want to join the teacher training program? I love to dance and wanted to see if I love to teach others to dance.
   
5. What’s something from dance that’s helped you in school or somewhere else in your life? It has taught me to be responsible and professional.
   

Stephanie Manziak

Student Teacher

1. What’s your favorite food? Broccoli Cheddar Soup
2. What’s your favorite subject in school? Science
3. What do you like about being a dancer? I like that it is something I can do with my friends and I like to perform for other people.
   
4. What made you want to join the teacher training program? I like to do things with kids so I wanted to learn how to become a teacher and be someone that kids look up to.
   
5. What’s something from dance that’s helped you in school or somewhere else in your life? Dance has helped me become more confident and it is also a great form of exercise.
   

Dejia Solomon

Student Teacher

1. What’s your favorite food? Empanadas!
   
2. What’s your favorite subject in school? My favorite subject is social studies.
   
3. What do you like about being a dancer? I love being able to express myself and making amazing friends and memories.
   
4. What made you want to join the teacher training program? I’ve always wanted to help teach little kids the love of dance.
   
5. What’s something from dance that’s helped you in school or somewhere else in your life? Dance has taught me that when you work hard you can accomplish anything. You just need to put the time and effort in.