youth

teaching philosophy

i believe in dance instruction that fosters well-rounded artists and humans. dance is more than memorizing & performing movement with technical precision. movement is a vehicle for expression that, when curated intentionally via choreography, has the power to reveal untold stories and remind audiences of our shared humanity.

no two students or classrooms are the same. therefore, my role as a dance educator is to guide students through a process that honors their unique strengths, needs, and learning styles. During class, students choose modifications, develop their personal style through guided improvisation, & collaborate on projects that are age-appropriate and relevant to their lives outside the classroom.

parent testimonials

miss carolyn works to ensure the girls are not only developing in dance skills, but building their social emotional development. she seeks to ensure her dancers celebrate not only dance but each other.

melissa, parent of molly
miss carolyn is so patient with the students. she has an incredible ability to keep the children engaged and focused. my daughter's technique has improved and she is much more confident. your child will love miss carolyn.

rae, parent of maggie
miss carolyn is the nicest person you will ever want to meet but at the same time can drive these young girls to do unbelievable performances! absolutely the best decision you will ever make for a dance teacher.

lindsay, parent of ashley

public schools

Carolyn combines her 20 years of direct teaching experience in Lowell Public Schools (LPS) with her background in curriculum development for national Trio Programs to create experiences that are holistically designed, engaging, rigorous, and relevant to students’ lives outside the classroom.

Through the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded “iStronG” grant (2019-2023), Carolyn worked with a team to develop, train teachers, and evaluate curriculum for ~200 low-income and first-generation-in-college students across the US. She continues to teach weekly dance classes to LPS students through after school and summer programs.

In Emergence’s first year, over 195 dance classes were taught to Lowell youth at no cost to families through LPS and the Lowell Youth Leadership Program (LYLP). Expanding access to high quality dance programs is central to emergence’s mission.

packages

customized workshops, programs, and 1:1lessons

60-120 minute classes offering center and across-the-floor training exercises and choreography
Styles: contemporary jazz, theatre jazz, street jazz, contemporary, and guided improvisation
ideal for after school, weekend, or summer programs looking to add creative movement to current academic offerings, or present students with fresh instruction for a defined period of time.
Styles: contemporary jazz, theatre jazz, street jazz, contemporary, guided improvisation and composition
private (and small group) lessons for dedicated practice towards technical or performance goals of the students’ choosing.
Styles: ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary