Artist Detail

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Kristi Burns

Dancer - UAC Teaching Artist

About the artist:

Kristi Burns loves working with students and movement. Along with teaching dance skills, she also integrates movement and the core curriculum. With primary grades spelling words, mathematic equations, geography, life-cycles, literature all come to life through movement. With older students she pushes for artistic excellence and self-expression. As a way to engage students, her philosophy is learning through moving. Her residency goals are flexible to meet the needs of each situation and group. They can include creative movement classes, dance technique classes, teacher workshops, and choreographic projects. Each residency culminates in a final sharing of the process for peers or community. Movement ideas come both from classroom curricula and from the participants' personal life experiences. Kristi believes in teaching inductively as a means of giving ownership to each student. Her residencies always focus on team work, cooperation, and respect for the body. Her 15 years plus of teaching dance has included such diverse settings as public and private schools, studios, work activity centers for special needs/disabilities, charter schools, and refugee camps in several parts of the world. She received her MFA in dance from the University of Utah, her MA in dance education from UCLA and a BA in dance choreography from Brigham Young University. Her current research looks individual voice vs. group voice in cultural contexts. Kristi has served as a dance faculty at the University of Hawaii, Eastern Connecticut State University, Springfield College, Westminster College, and as the Assistant Dean for the College of Fine Arts at the University of Utah. She currently serves as a professional development partner in the Beverley T. Sorenson Arts Learning Program in conjunction with Brigham Young University and the University of Utah.