Leaping into Leadership

 I became a TA at EDA in 2016 and became a lead instructor in 2017. Not only is being a TA a great opportunity to begin your professional journey at a young age, I felt teaching improved my own dancing as I became more aware of technique and the more basic concepts of dance.  This TA opportunity was a great addition to my growing resume, was such a rewarding experience, and Ms. Veronica is such a great mentor and reference for future career opportunities. I now continue to teach dance including teaching private lessons and hosting dance workshops. EDA's TA program is the perfect stepping stone to a career whether in dance, teaching, or leadership! 

- Ashlee Buote (EDA Class of '17)

 "The TA program at EDA was one of my first experiences in teaching dance, and I couldn't be more thankful for the support and encouragement from their staff that shaped me into the dance teacher I am today. At EDA I went from being a team dancer, to TA, to substitute teacher, to recital instructor, to performance team instructor! I now hold a BA in Education with a Minor in Dance and have been teaching dance to children of all ages through the Bay Area and Southern California since 2021."

-Daelyn Cerruti (EDA Class of '19) 

 "I first became a TA at EDA when I was 13. Throughout the years, I was able to expand my skills in leadership, communication, and organization with the support and guidance of EDA teachers. This support carried on through my transition into becoming a lead instructor when I turned 16. Now, I have experience teaching weekly classes, drafting lesson plans, communicating with my students, their parents, and my colleagues, choreographing, and running summer camps. The mentorship of EDA's amazing staff has allowed me to take on these roles smoothly, develop my own confidence and skills in acting as a role model, connect with my community's young dancers, and has reinforced my dream of becoming a teacher." 

-Diana Schwarz (EDA Class of '24)

"Being a TA helped me learn leadership skills and allowed me to become more confident not only in my dance ability, but also as a young woman. As an adult now, I use these positive attributes that I developed from being a TA at Expressions in my daily life."

- Kim Snyder (EDA Class of '17)

 "Being a TA for Ms. Wendy during summer camps helped me build confidence in leadership and taught me how to be a good mentor for the kids. Gaining experience early in my dance career, I've taken away valuable lessons from the apprenticeship and transformed it into a career as a professional dance instructor at OnOne Studios."

- Bailey Yang (EDA Class of '18) 

  "Being a teaching assistant at Expressions helped me gain confidence at the studio to be a leader. It helped me learn responsibility and communication skills as I worked with the teachers and parents. Today, I have been able to use those skills as a teaching assistant in college and teaching dance classes of my own. Taking on the role of a TA at a young age in an encouraging environment like EDA helped me take initiative to be successful in and outside of the dance studio! "

- Chloe Fields (EDA Class of '21)