Professional Development Beyond Dance
We realize that the world is bigger than dance. Not only do we want to help our students improve their dancing, but we also want to help support them into becoming well-rounded individuals ready to take on the world. That's why we offer a unique range of opportunities for our students to develop professional skills, leadership qualities, and explore their passions beyond dance while contributing to the Expressions Dance & Arts community.
Students who have spent at least one year dancing at Expressions Dance & Arts may apply for any of the opportunities below.
In this program, students commit to assisting an Expressions lead instructor once per week. Students get to shadow a talented EDA staff member over the course of an entire school year, providing training and professional experience to include in resumes as they begin their adult life.
Many students who complete this program go on to teach dance classes at EDA and other studios, or pursue careers in education outside of dance.
Teachers Assistants gain valuable leadership skills like confidence, communication, and professional conduct. This program is a great way for dancers to transition from being a student to learning how to take on a teaching role all while being a positive role model for younger children at the studio.
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)
Interns work closely with EDA staff to understand the inner workings of our small business. Whether assisting editing music, contributing to marketing efforts, managing social media, or supporting studio operations, students gain practical experience in a dynamic environment.
As a Summer Assistant Artistic Director, Marketing Intern, Social Media Intern, or Studio Operations Intern, students will engage in creative problem-solving, strategic planning, and execution of projects. These roles offer a platform to apply innovative ideas and see them come to life.
Throughout the program, interns will develop a wide range of professional skills. From general skills like collaboration and project management to hard skills like music editing, Microsoft excel, and Canva, students will learn skills that provide a robust foundation for future opportunities. Interns will build a strong resume with relevant experience, positioning them well for careers in fields such as marketing, business management, communications, and more.
By participating in these internships, students will develop a deeper sense of ownership and pride in the studio's accomplishments. At the end of their internship, interns will experience the rewarding feeling of having contributed significantly to the studio’s success, knowing they have helped build something meaningful beyond just their roles as dancers.
Check out our list of Intern Projects.
Here is a resume template you can use to get a head start. Be sure to adjust your resume to correspond to the projects you’d like to apply for.
Fill out this google form by Wednesday June 12th to apply.
A mentor will follow up with you to schedule a time for an interview! This will be used to assess how well you’ll be able to work together, your interests, your timelines and your availability.
Based on interviews with all candidates, Ms. Katherine will reach out to you to let you know whether or not you’ve been accepted into this year’s summer intern program.
You’ll meet virtually or in-person with your mentor o develop a project plan.
You'll meet weekly with your mentor to track progress, receive feedback, and address challenges. These meetings ensure you have ongoing support and help you achieve project success.
Once you've finished your project, you can either offboard from the program or begin additional projects based on your availability.
Applications will open in June 2024. To apply, students will be asked to submit a Resume. Students may use this template if it is helpful.
Expressions Dance & Arts of Pleasanton
4811 Hopyard Road, Suite G-6, Pleasanton, CA, 94588
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