Valerie Branch

I believe that dance has the power to transform, enhance and open the mind to new and different possibilities. Integrating dance into the traditional classroom setting helps children gain confidence, increases their memory, assists with their social developmental skills, and helps them to think more creatively, critically, and outside of the box. For me, it is important to work in the schools and with children, because I believe that children need as many positive role models and mentors as possible to support healthy development. I also believe that using dance as a tool for learning helps children to understand different logics and also to assist with independent thinking. Children become smarter because their brains are being targeted and challenged in a different way. As a dance teaching artist and educator, I believe in the importance of sharing the culture, knowledge, and history of dance with disinvested youth to enhance growth and development within their communities, while empowering them to make strong independent choices now and in their future. -Valerie Branch-