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.