Teacher by day, performer by night
Last week I had the pleasure of witnessing Jessica Jensen, one of our BTS Arts Dance Educators, perform the role of Deloris Van Cartier in the Hale Center Theatre Orem production of Sister Act.
As an audience member I had a blast: I laughed, I cringed, I cried. But as a fellow artist educator, I was inspired! As an artist educator, I often wonder if I am truly an ‘artist’, especially when teaching, administrating, and planning takes up a majority of my daily work activities. Jessica Jensen reminded me that being an artist, becoming an artist, and my desire to be an artist are why I’m an educator.
Jessica teaches at Columbia Elementary in Jordan School District. She posted on social media late last week:
“Wow! Being able to perform as Deloris in Sister Act has filled my cup so much. I’ve never been much of an actress, and I have always been quite shy. Having this opportunity has pushed me in ways I didn’t know possible.”
When I saw her perform, I knew I was witnessing an expanded version of the Jessica I knew. I have had the pleasure of knowing Jessica as a student artist and pre-service teacher, as a professional colleague, and as a friend. She has always exhibited a quiet confidence and humble strength that isn’t necessarily characteristic of the character Deloris Van Cartier.
“I feel nothing like Deloris! So playing a character like her has been hard, but I’ve learned so much. I can’t adequately put to words what this experience has meant to me. I’ve gained confidence and friends.”
The value of being an artist and an educator
Being an artist is an amazing way to be. You can assume the role, posture, or feeling of different characters and environments. You can travel to places unreachable by car, boat, or plane, places that are only accessible through the body and experience in the arts. Personally, I think it would be FUN to be Deloris Van Cartier for a few evenings!
When we embody the experiences of different characters and places, we expand our imagination, our vision of possibility, and gain confidence in our abilities to contribute to the world we want to create.
Isn’t this what we are offering to students as artist educators? As artists first, we have experienced the transportation of thought and feeling to new worlds and new feelings, and now as educators, this is what we want to offer to the next generation.
Through the arts, we take children to new places. Through the arts, we lead children to create new spaces. Through the arts, we grow seeds of understanding for others. Through the arts, we provide experience with possibility. Through the arts, we manage risk and allow room for safe experimentation. Through the arts, students can try on a multitude of life experiences without fear of failure or making a life commitment.
Teacher by day, performer by night
After I saw her performance, I asked Jessica, “How has performing at night influenced you as a teacher?”
“It’s helped me find more joy. I love performing and doing this show has been so much fun, it’s reminded me to invite much more joy and fun into my classes and teaching during the day.”
Her students are so lucky to have an artist for a teacher. Watching Jessica have fun on stage reminded me, too, as an audience member and colleague, that there is room for play and fun everyday!
She also opened up to me about the realities of being a performer and a teacher simultaneously.
“Performing and teaching has been quite busy: it makes for long days, especially during the rehearsal process of learning a show. It has required me to plan better and use my time more efficiently, and really prioritize sleep and rest when that’s available. There are some things that are simply sacrificed–like a constantly clean home, or being able to participate in extra educational meetings/pursuits. I’m sure there’s more things I forget to do as well. But for me it’s been so worth it, as I have had much more joy during my days. The more I can ‘fill my bucket’ outside of teaching, the more I have to give when teaching.”
Teachers, who are artists, have great tools for managing burn-out, cultivating joy, and participating in play as a form of self-care. In Jessica’s case, she’s playing Deloris Van Cartier and it looks so fun! I think we can all take inspiration from her and make the time to fill our cup as artists and watch how it translates to role as educators.
There are two more weeks to see her perform! She performs on Tuesdays @ 7:30, Fridays @ 7:30, and Saturdays at 4 and 7:30 at the Hale Centre Theatre in Orem.
Pictures by: @suzyophotography
Heather Francis is the research and design coordinator for the BYU ARTS Partnership. As a dance-teaching artist and math educator, she loves integrating the arts for the purpose of learning, connecting with others, and enjoying life.
