What is your role at Creative Netwerk?

Program management for the Santa Barbara area. So that's looks like facilitating dance classes by means of working with different site partners and the management of our teaching artists. 

How did you get into dance, originally?

Oh, my gosh, back when I was a little girl I actually stumbled upon my first dance experience with a DVD. I loved it - I was obsessed! Then I started to take tap classes, and eventually other classes too. I think it's great for children because it's just kinetic and uses math as well. And helps us regulate emotions, too. I joined a hip hop team when I was in the sixth grade. And that was an interesting experience that exposed me to community and street dance. I kept dancing and studied classical theater in high school and theater arts in college. And began teaching in after school programs, which helped lead me to my work with Creative Netwerk.

Why is dance important to you, today?

I've always found dance to be that joy portal, where it's that time and space you can carve out for yourself, or you can join others and carve out that time and space together. For me, it really has been that personal connection. That's been so valuable - and this is something I always pass along to all of my students as well - even if you're playing a song while you brush your teeth you can do so much just in that short time for your connection to self, to your mental health, to getting your body moving in a different way. I’ve loved all the exposure to Chicago footwork and more niche styles too. For me on a personal level, it's always been about that connection to self. It has helped me as I was trying to figure out what I was doing in life exploring new paths. And dance has remained this constant source of joy. For students and for kids to get access to that at a young age is so important.

How does Creative Netwerk align with your vision for dance in SB county?

The first part of my vision is about collaboration, in terms of working with other organizations, and bridging that cultural gap that exists here. For instance, this summer we partnered with a music nonprofit to deliver a four week program that moved through the social dances and music styles of the 50s 60s 70s and 80s. Another part of my vision is around the idea of including all ages in our programming. We have a lot of elementary school classes and interest which is awesome. We are adding on more junior high classes, which is such an important age, and we will be back at Santa Barbara High School. And I also feel that it’s important to create great opportunities for the teaching artists in this area. I don’t want talented artists to feel like this area is without opportunities because it’s not in a major city. Which is where bringing more creative teaching opportunities and collaborating with other arts organizations helps.

How was your experience in NYC this past summer?

It was so nice to be in NYC with the Creative Netwerk team. I got a lot more exposure to street dance and was in one of my first battles. I know it’s a bit gnarly to admit that at my age, but it was a really like cool experience. It made everything else I was participating in, from workshops to intensives, make so much more sense. It was enlightening as a whole, and my big takeaway was the energy in that room, because it was just electric. It was great to get immersed in something different and to see what the programming is like in New York and how the NYC team brought people together.

What do you hope Creative Netwerk students or teachers will learn from you?

I hope something along the lines of, the glass is always half full, or I will find a new glass. I have an aggressive stance on having and creating peaceful environments. I really do see any problem as just a means for a solution. I also hope that they value fun. Having fun doesn't diminish any of the other work I do in any other arena. I can still value fun and prioritize fun and so can others. 

What do you see for the future of Creative Netwerk?

I see Creative Netwerk leaning into that network. I love seeing the power in these events of battles and showing representation of street dance and Lite Feet and exposing students of all ages to something new. That might be just what they needed for their healing process or getting some joy. I see us feeding the quality of teachers and then feeding that back into the  communities we are in.