Emma Butler-Smith is currently in her eighth year teaching at Burges High School. She graduated from Burges in 2010. While at Burges, she served as vice-president of her class for two years and was a member of the Mustang Theatre Company, Amici Chorea Dance Company, and National Honor Society. She graduated in the top 2% of her class and was awarded All-Burges Girl. After graduation, she attended UTEP where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and received the Outstanding Service to the Dance Department Award. Since then, she has performed at various venues in El Paso, Las Cruces, and Juarez with Another River Interdisciplinary Ensemble and Tumbleweed Dance Collective. She is currently a member of the Texas Dance Educator's Association (TDEA) and the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). Emma LOVES Burges and is excited to share her passion and knowledge of dance and movement with her students! She hopes to continue the Burges tradition of creating a culture in the school and community that understands and appreciates dance as an art form and to promote a life-long love for dance.
Teaching PHILOSOPHY
Movement is the essence of life. We are constantly moving through space and time and even ideas and relationships with those around us. Dance is a way of observing and understanding the human experience and the world in which we live. Through dance we learn more about ourselves and those around us. It guides us to find awareness of our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual selves. Dance helps us build balance, strength, endurance, and flexibility. It can serve as a means of self-expression and help us build our sense of identity. It aids in the development of our 21st century skills including critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, growth mindset, autonomy, communication, and professional ethics. It also builds our confidence, self-esteem, discipline, and positivity. Whether one is old or young, male or female, ‘dancer’ or ‘non-dancer,’ DANCE IS FOR EVERYONE.
Despite its many benefits, dance rarely gets the recognition it deserves and many do not understand all the forms it can take. I hope that through my teaching, I will be successful in creating a culture that understands and appreciates dance as an art with many forms that are all worthy of recognition and prestige. Throughout my entire student career I have been touched by my teachers and mentors. They have empowered me to find the best solutions to my problems, challenged me to reach my full potential, and inspired me to become a better student, dancer, and person overall. I hope to have the opportunity to do this for others. My intention is to create an atmosphere of acceptance and safety in my classes so that I may share my knowledge and passion for movement to inspire my students to be the best and most authentic versions of themselves. I want to help shape socially conscious individuals who can utilize the benefits of dance and carry the love of dance in their hearts forever, whether it becomes their career or not.