Emmalyn Miron

Teaching Portfolio

I approach teaching from a phenomenological viewpoint, realizing that every student, dancer and actor comes to the classroom or rehearsal space with his/her/their own unique perspective, worldview and background. Understanding where students are coming from allows me to adapt my curriculum to foster the best learning experience for each of them. As a theatre and dance instructor, it is important to me to see each student as an individual with different interests, abilities and learning styles, as individuality is at the essence of creating art. I use my unique background as a licensed master social worker, educator and performer to view students holistically, taking into consideration which learning styles will aide them in accomplishing their goals in the classroom and beyond. Understanding the student in this way allows me to create activities and discussions that push students to not only memorize facts and dance steps, but to think critically about the artform. 

The performing arts are unique in that the performance element is a large part of a class in this field. Not only do students need to grasp the practice (technique, precision, choreography) and the theory behind the practice (history, process or creation, new innovations and criticisms), but they also have to understand the level of expertise, drive and vision it takes to be a successful performing artist. This is where the student’s unique perspective and individuality comes into play. I combine all of these elements into my courses and attempt to include many learning styles along the way. Read more…

Teaching Philosophy

Course Taught at the University Level

DANC 2311, Topics in Dance - Irish Dance

University of Texas at Dallas, Spring 2023

5 Students

DANC 2311 provides students with a strong foundation in Irish Step and Ceili Dance, taught in the context of its rich cultural history.

Responsibilities: Course creation, instruction. compilation of relevant materials (articles, media, etc.), choreographing and teaching Irish Dance, structuring class activities around Irish culture and history, fostering class discussion/ learning and grading.

DANCE 1310, Understanding Dance

University of Texas at Dallas, Fall 2022

50 Students

Lectures, discussions, video and live performance viewings designed to explore artistic, philosophical, and historical dimensions of the theatrical dance experience.

Responsibilities: Course instruction based on Texas Core Curriculum and chosen textbook for this course, compiling relevant supplemental materials (articles, media, etc.), teaching basic dance movement, structuring class activities, fostering class discussion/ learning and grading.

THTR 4972- Dance Tap I

Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Spring 2002

25 Students

Tap I explores the fundamentals of tap dancing, including technique, basic steps and tap history. This course is designed for music theatre and dance majors.

Responsibilities: Team taught tap dance instruction based on the curriculum laid out by the theatre and dance department.

Course Assisted at the University Level

AHST 1303, Survey of Western Art History (Ancient to Medieval)

University of Texas at Dallas, Spring 2022

115 Students

AHST 1303 is an art history survey course meant to cover the study of various forms of visual expression in the art and architecture of many different societies around the world.

Responsibilities: Grading assignments, tests and essays, taking attendance and keeping track of student participation in class and on field trips.

LIT 2321 Survey B Literature in Translation – French Literature

University of Texas at Dallas, Fall, 2021

25 Students

This course highlights the works of French literature that have shaped the development of international literature during the past 200 hundred years including Baudelaire, Mallarmé, Balzac, Zola, Flaubert, Beckett and Ionesco.

Responsibilities: Finding audio-visual and written resources to accompany the course readings, locating appropriate guest lecturers from various universities with a background in French Literature and translation.

THTR 4972, Dance Ballet I

Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Fall 2002

25 Students

Ballet I explores the fundamentals of Ballet dancing, including technique, basic steps and the history of classical and contemporary ballet. This course is designed for music theatre and dance majors.

Responsibilities: Assisted struggling students with terminology, technique, steps, choreography and note taking.

Grants

Board Member, Dance for Parkinson’s, Fort Worth, Texas. Grant awarded

The grant allowed the Fort Worth Women’s Club and Arts Fifth Avenue to bring in top teachers to put on dance classes with live music for Parkinson’s patients. It also allowed for new teachers to go to New York and get training in Dance for Parkinson’s Instruction.

Directing Artist, City of Lewisville, Lewisville, Texas. Artist Micro-grant awarded

The Grant allowed me to produce and direct A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the City of Lewisville.

  • Texas State Champion Irish Step Dancer

  • Texas State Champion Irish Vocalist

  • Top Ten Freshman (Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SOSU)

  • American Scholar/President’s Honor Roll (SOSU)

  • Rose Award for Best Freshman in Theatre (SOSU)

  • Charles Warthen Scholarship (SOSU)

  • Braniff Scholarship (University of Dallas)

  • Teaching Scholarship (University of Dallas)

  • Greater Lewisville Theatre Scholarship (City of Lewisville)

  • Trooper of the year award (SOSU)

  • Irene Ryan Nominee 2002-2004 (Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival)

  • Best Director, Actress, & Dancer (SOSU)

  • Best Costume Design Critic’s Choice Award (The Column, Dallas)

  • Fort Worth Star Telegram Winner of Best Performance Venue (Arts 5th Ave.)

  • Best Attitude (Cardlab)

  • Selected as one of seven dancers to attend Sarah Petronio’s Tap Intensive in Paris, France.

Honors and Awards

  • Graduate Student Representative on the faculty search committee for an Assistant Professor of Instruction in Dance, University of Texas at Dallas, (Present)

  • Legacy Tap Project, Board Member, Social Media Marketing Director (2014- Present)

  • North Texas Scottie Rescue, Board Member, Social Media Marketing Director (2006-Present)

  • InishFree School Of Irish Dance, Championship Dancer (2000- Present)

  • Innovative Community Academic Partnership, Committee Member, University of Texas at Arlington (2008-2009)

  • Community Services Center, Intern, University of Texas at Arlington (2006-2008)

  • Arlington Safe and Drug Free Schools, Intern, University of Texas at Arlington (2007)

  • Chorvettes Stage Works Company: Goodwill Ambassadors of Oklahoma, Southeastern Oklahoma State University (2001-04)

  • Gear Up Oklahoma, Student Representative, Southeastern Oklahoma State University (2001-2004)

Organizations/ Service Activities

  • Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

  • Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society

  • Golden Key National Honor Society

  • Alpha Chi National Honor Society

  • Cardinal Key National Honor Sorority

  • Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Fraternity

  • Texas Thespians (Honor Bar Thespian)

  • National English Honor Society

Honor Societies

Sample Teaching Video

Tap Dance

Sample Teaching Materials

Beyond the Classroom: Student Interactions

I enjoy my time with students outside of the classroom and have worked as both a TA and an Instructor of Record to make students feel welcome and to put together exciting campus events.

As a TA for Art History, I created an online event for students that expanded on the material in class. I found, the speaker, composed the topic/content and designed and carried out the event.

Together with Instructor Ali Alibhai, I helped put together a museum treasure hunt for UTD Art History Students at the Dallas Museum of Art.

Together with Dr. Ali Alibhai, we met with struggling students to help them learn about campus resources in order to guide them toward success in the university setting.

I volunteered my time to teach an Irish Dance master class to students in Monica Saba’s World Dance Class at UTD in Fall, 2022.

I will be assisting Monica Saba in taking UTD dance and theatre students to the ACDA Dance conference at Sam Houston State University next month.

While in the Theatre Department at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, I volunteered my time by tutoring students in tap, jazz and ballet as well as helping to host Honor Show Choir, The Southern region’s Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and the Oklahoma Gear Up Tour.

I performed and lectured at Texas Wesleyan University for the Rising Stars Youth Leadership Academy.

  • I would like to thank you for the semester, I really enjoyed being a part of your class. I used to look forward to coming to your class each time whether it was to learn about new topics or for dance practicums (which were my favorite)! Your enthusiasm for both the course and teaching is easy to tell as you always taught us with a smile on your face.

    ~Leah H., DANC 1310

  • It was informative without being boring and I liked how we could choose to do projects on what we were interested in.

    ~DANC 1310 Course Evaluation

  • Easy access to class slides & notes. Professor Miron is a great lecturer & made guidelines regarding grades & testing very easy. She was also very understanding about personal situations regarding absences.

    ~DANC 1310 Course Evaluation

  • I enjoyed the content and pace of the class.

    ~DANC 1310 Course Evaluation

  • Emmalyn is a phenomenal teacher. She is an Irish dancer and has a vast knowledge of the subject. Her eyes fill with joy when she is explaining something to her students. To love what you teach is a great quality that I admire in Emmalyn. I recommend her as a teacher, a speaker, and a performer. It has been a blast to have known her.

    ~Shahrzad H., DANC 2311, Topics in Dance - Irish Dance

  • Professor Miron was a fantastic instructor, I learned so much about the origins and history of Irish culture. I looked forward to this class each and every week!

    DANC 2311, Topics in Dance - Irish Dance

  • She was an excellent teacher! I hope to visit her and her friend Seamus one day in Ireland!

    DANC 2311, Topics in Dance - Irish Dance Course Evaluation

  • Everything in this course should remain the same! She was amazing!

    DANC 2311, Topics in Dance - Irish Dance Course Evaluation