Professional Development: The Juilliard Experience in Drama

Being a participant of the Juilliard-Nord Anglia Drama P.D. for the Performing Arts was unlike anything I have ever experienced before. My fellow teachers and I enjoyed a week of technique building workshops, taught by Juilliard educators and invited teaching artists. We also had the pleasure of attending superb music and dance performances given by Juilliard alumni, who shared a bit about their own artistic path and professional experiences with us.

 The motivating energy of the week was fostered by the idea of “engagement before information”. Developing practices that can spark the creative mind and provide a foundation from which this development can continue to grow. All the while acknowledging the importance of generating this very same spark in teachers and providing us with the resources to share these incredible discoveries with our students. The information in the Creative Classroom and the NAU are invaluable in furthering our comprehension of these practices and help us to provide an enriching arts education to our students.
 
The richness of delving into the theatrical world while at the Juilliard School was life-changing. Moments of collaborative exploration that were facilitated in such a carefully crafted way that it felt seamless. This helped enormously in building a sense of confidence and trust within the participants, which made this experience all the more fulfilling.   
 
 I look forward to my own journey through these practices and methods as I continue to grow as an educator and hopefully, as an artist as well. This experience will be the bedrock on which this school year and many more to come will be built and I am eager for the moments of discovery to come.