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         My name is Kimberly Schafer, and I am an Educator, Director, and Choreographer that resides in New York City. I am originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, and I moved to the big city to pursue my career in the theatrical dance world. I graduated from Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance Performance. For the first eight years of my life in NYC, my focus had been strictly on performing, but I always knew that I had a love for teaching and choreography. In the past five years, I have started making the transition into becoming a professional teacher and choreographer. 

         As a teacher, I am constantly growing from what the students teach me everyday. However I do think I have established a way of teaching and strategies that have been very successful. I have always been a positive up-beat person which I think is a great quality for a teacher. Overall, I try to keep the teaching environment a fun, open minded safe space. I always tell my students that in class is where you grow to the artist you are going to become, because you can take risks and challenge yourself in the safe environment. My class is very fast paced which keeps it challenging for the students but I do it in a way that keeps them on their toes with excitement. I do believe corrections and special attention to each student is very important so I try to constantly give improvements that they can work on. I feel that my job as a teaching artist is to teach them as much as possible in a nurturing yet challenging way, and at the same time I am willing to reset the choreography to meet their abilities in order to achieve success.  I always tell my students to try the harder step and if you fall I will be there to catch you and build you back up.  I truly believe that as an educator I am the heart that keeps the students going. 

         In life, I think communication is the key to a successful career. In teaching, it’s very important to be able to communicate with all different ages and ability levels. I am very good at breaking steps down for the kids with less training all while progressing the advanced students. The way you talk to a student could create or destroy a positive experience for them.   I also believe that structure is very important as a teacher. I think beginning and ending the class in a similar manner will produce the best results in enhancing their creativity.