My
love for the Horton Technique was instant with my first class. I was a
sophomore dance major at Blake High School for the Arts in Tampa, FL.
I was still a little overwhelmed from learning so many new techniques
at one time. Honestly I was a little less than enthused about adding
yet another technique to my dance studies. My feelings were quickly
changed as the class progressed. I learned that this technique was
quite demanding on the body, but my body embraced the challenge! Within just a few months of studying Horton my body became remarkably
stronger, with increased flexibility and length. I furthered my Horton
studies at Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School in
St. Petersburg, FL. From PCCA I continued my studies as a student in
the Alvin Ailey/Fordham University B.F.A. Program. As a student at The
Ailey School I studied Horton under Ana Marie Forsythe and Milton
Myers. Both of whom studied under Joyce Trisler, who trained directly
with Lester Horton.
My
strong foundation in Horton made it easier for me to adapt to other
modern techniques. As a result my dance vocabulary became extremely
versatile. This versatility gave me a strong dance foundation which
led to my becoming a member of Dallas Black Dance Theatre II. In 2008
Dallas Black Dance Theatre founder and artistic director Ann Williams
appointed me as the Lead Instructor for Dallas Black Dance Academy. As
the Lead Instructor I teach creative movement, ballet, tap, and modern
to students ages five through adult. Dallas Black Dance Academy’s
curriculum has established Horton as the modern technique of study for
its students. Thus far I have taught Horton to students ages seven
through adult.
I plan to attend a Horton Pedagogy Workshop and attendance will increase my knowledge of
the Horton technique thus increasing the knowledge that I can present
to my students. By attending this workshop I will learn the Horton Technique from a
teacher’s perspective by covering the entire vocabulary of The Dance
Technique of Lester Horton and learning from one of the authors how to
teach the vocabulary. With my increased Horton vocabulary I plan to continue to teach
Horton master classes nationally, thus keeping the technique alive. I
plan to be the next generation of the legacy that started with Lester
Horton, which he passed to Joyce Trisler, which she passed to Ana Marie
Forsythe and Milton Myers, both of whom have planted the technique of
Lester Horton in me.