Erinn Liebhard is a dance artist making opportunities for people to experience the reflective and connective power of groove through performance and education. Having grown up dancing socially at her dad’s rock band’s gigs, she discovered young the exhilaration of playfully experiencing groove alongside others. Guided by this inspiration and a fondness for jazz and American social dance ideas, she’s worked with creatives as varied as hip-hop dance theater artists Rennie Harris and the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers Appalachian clogging company. As forms with African diasporic roots and branches are central to it, she also sees inclusion, diversity, equity and access as integral to her work. In performance, she makes and performs new staged works and present those of others through her company Rhythmically Speaking, and performs freelance and as self-created character “Nerdette” for St. Paul Saints Baseball’s Entertainment Team. She also creates new works for high schools, colleges and professional dance companies. In education, beyond the COMPAS Teaching Artist Roster, she has been faculty for many area arts high schools and universities, and is currently teaching at Carleton College, St. Olaf College and Winona State University. She also conducts educational outreach through her company, and is a published writer and conference presenter.
Teaching Artist Statement
As an educator, I provide learners with laboratories to explore how dancing connects us to ourselves, one another, history and the moment through the connective and reflective power of groove. I specialize in jazz and American social dance styles, which are driven by groove, as well as interaction with oneself, the music and fellow dancers, and improvisation. I’m inspired by how these styles bring people alive within and outside of themselves, expressing freedom alongside inner cool while thinking on their feet. By centering embodied groove – a uniquely human capability – in my teaching, I’m creating space for people to experience joyful social connection, danced understanding and appreciation of differences and similarities, and embodied understandings of history and the possibilities of the future. I deeply value dance learning as a means for learners to find self and community expression, and to build abilities to be specific, articulate and creative in the ways they approach the world, helping people cultivate their best selves.
I’m committed to effectively delivering key concepts while encouraging revelry in moving musically, socially and intentionally. I achieve these goals by creating a classroom in which enthusiastic curiosity is the base, visceral movement is the driver, and humor is key. I encourage learner development by empowering them to ask questions, provide feedback and explore individuality amidst community in their movement choices. I conduct class with intent focus yet lighthearted humor, which I have found to be successful in fostering an energetic, supportive environment for learners of various backgrounds, interests and abilities. In my classroom, students can comfortably explore territory that is new for them as they progress their knowledge of the world through dance.
Program Offerings
Workshops
Swing: The Dance of the Roaring Twenties
Dive into one of the most popular social dances in American history through this upbeat workshop. Learners will develop an appreciation for the history of swing dancing, learning its basic elements including syncopation, double-bounce groove, and footwork while considering the major social and cultural shifts that happened during the era. This offering is great for history and physical education classrooms, dance programs, professional development programs and anyone curious about Swing dance!
Duration: One 45 minute to 2 hour-long session.
Needed: An open space to dance in and a speaker capable of filling the space with the appropriate volume of sound (which teaching artist can provide if requested).
Customized to various participant types, including Creative Classroom programs and Artful Aging.
Residencies
Dancing Through American History
In this vibrant offering, learners track the development of social dance in the United States, exploring basic popular movements from several eras in chronological order and comparing and contrasting them. Learn how American social dances like jazz, funk and hip hop sprung from the meeting of African and European movement and music styles to create uniquely American approaches to dance. This offering is great for history and music classrooms, dance programs, libraries, senior care facilities and anyone curious about American social dance!
Duration: 3 to 10 sessions, 45 minutes to one hour (customizable)
Participant Type: Early Elementary (K-3), Upper Elementary (4-6), Middle School (5-8), High School (9-12), Folks with Disabilities, Older Adults
Needed: An open space to dance in – gym or other such floor preferred, but carpet workable, and a speaker capable of filling the space with the appropriate volume of sound (which teaching artist can provide if requested).
Creative Movement
This offering encourages participants to explore the body as an instrument for creative expression. In this fun and engaging class, learners will use the BASTE dance elements (Body, Action, Space, Time and Energy) to creatively problem-solve physical tasks and use their bodies in motion as a tool of meaningful self and communal expression. This offering is great for physical education classrooms, as an arts integrative tool in any school subject, libraries, senior care facilities, and anyone curious about creative movement
Duration: 3 to 10 sessions, 45 minutes to one hour (customizable)
Participant Type: Early Elementary (K-3), Upper Elementary (4-6), Middle School (5-8), High School (9-12), Teens & Young Adults, Folks with Disabilities, Adults – General, Older Adults – General, Memory Care, Intergenerational
Needed: An open space to dance in – gym or other such floor preferred, but carpet workable, and a speaker capable of filling the space with the appropriate volume of sound (which teaching artist can provide if requested).
Art in Motion – Ballet, Modern and Jazz Sampler
This offering encourages learners to explore embodied artistic expression through ballet, modern and jazz dance ideas. Participants will learn basic steps from each of these dance forms, contextualizing them within history and culture along the way. This offering is great for history and physical education classrooms, dance programs, libraries, senior care facilities and anyone curious about American concert dance!
Duration: 3 to 10 sessions, 45 minutes to one hour (customizable)
Upper Elementary (4-6), Middle School (5-8), High School (9-12), Teens & Young Adults, Folks with Disabilities, Adults – General, Older Adults – General
Performances
Groove On! Jazz Dance with Rhythmically Speaking
This interactive performance welcomes folks to learn about how jazz music and dance sprung from the meeting of African and European movement and music styles to create uniquely American approaches to dance. Led by members of Twin Cities-based jazz dance company Rhythmically Speaking, this show centers around three pillars of jazz – groove, interaction and improvisation – and provides the opportunity to learn about jazz dance and music while watching and moving with professional dancers.
Experience Jazz Dance with Rhythmically Speaking
This offering is a professional concert dance performance by Twin Cities-based jazz dance company Rhythmically Speaking, featuring favorite company repertoire works that show a breadth of what jazz dance can be. As jazz dance is a spirited form rooted in social dance ideas familiar to many, this performance is an excellent opportunity to expose people to concert dance – or dance as art – in a way that feels joyful and accessible.
“Erinn, it was so awesome having you. The way you interacted with the students was spot on; you were firm and set expectations without lecturing them or getting mad. You brought them in by showing them what they’d be missing if they didn’t participate. I can’t tell you how surprised I was that certain students were so engaged! And your energy was contagious. You are easily the best teacher we’ve had here.”
Michele Costello, Washington Tech Magnet School – St. Paul MN
