Welcome to Movement and Drama Class!!
With Ms. Murphy-Archer
Movement and Theater classes are active student centered classes. Students use their creativity, imagination and kinesthetic awareness to explore the arts. Movement classes are for students new to dance and movement, as well as those with experience. Theater classes encompass all aspects of theater including acting, directing, and make up. Every class is a collaborative creative adventure!
Growing up I was lucky enough to train as a Ballet dancer in the Royal Academy of Dance tradition. I learned many things through dancing for example: discipline, collaboration, and healthy living. After studying modern dance under the Merce Cunningham tradition in college, I decided to try acting. This led me to New York City, where I was accepted into The William Esper School. I completed the two year professional training program there and learned: the importance of empathizing with others, how to speak directly, and that passing on stories was an important part of life as a learning tool. Then I hit the audition trail and did some regional theater work and small film and TV work. After working at Ensemble Studio Theater for a year I decided to go to graduate school to get a Theater Education degree. I graduated from NYU and was ready to share my knowledge with students. I am thrilled to be able to do this with the St. Timothy's students!
My philosophy around teaching is that it is a collaboration between myself and the students, as well as the students with one another. I work in a student centered fashion to foster a strong point of view, belief in oneself, and an ability to make connections between daily life and art. While the goal is always to have fun I also believe in pushing ourselves to learn something new, and see what talents we may have that we weren't aware of. Classes are structured with unstructured elements, perfectly quiet and noisy, and always creative. At the end of the year the students will be exposed to movement and choreographers they hadn't know about before. As well students will have a way to work to create their own dance. As well as a Theater class company who can put on a show by working together! It is an adventure and I am so happy to get the chance to take the trip everyday!
My philosophy around teaching is that it is a collaboration between myself and the students, as well as the students with one another. I work in a student centered fashion to foster a strong point of view, belief in oneself, and an ability to make connections between daily life and art. While the goal is always to have fun I also believe in pushing ourselves to learn something new, and see what talents we may have that we weren't aware of. Classes are structured with unstructured elements, perfectly quiet and noisy, and always creative. At the end of the year the students will be exposed to movement and choreographers they hadn't know about before. As well students will have a way to work to create their own dance. As well as a Theater class company who can put on a show by working together! It is an adventure and I am so happy to get the chance to take the trip everyday!