Statement of Teaching

At the heart of my teaching philosophy is a belief in the innate power, intelligence and expressive capacity of every body. My approach is grounded in the idea that dance can be a radical act of self-knowing and social connection, especially when students are invited to fully inhabit their identities, histories, curiosities, and possibilities through physical practice. I view the studio and the classroom as interconnected spaces of rigorous experimentation, where students can discover their voice, question norms, develop technique, and foster meaningful artistic inquiry in a collaborative environment.

Over the last two decades, I have taught extensively in youth, pre-professional, and professional settings across California, Washington, and Colorado, including long-term roles at Destiny Arts Center, Bandaloop, Flyaway Productions, Contra Costa School for the Performing Arts, and, currently, as Director of Education and Operations at Shawl-Anderson Dance Center in Berkeley. In this role, I oversee a faculty of 50+ artists and help shape inclusive, anti-racist curricula for over 90 weekly classes in youth and adult programs. I regularly teach classes in contemporary technique, improvisation, choreography, ballet, contact, and somatics, serving both aspiring professional dancers and lifelong movers.

My studio practice is informed by the intersections of technical training, somatic awareness, improvisation, and cultural critique. Paramount to my values is teaching students to amplify the tenor of their bodies through idiosyncratic, expressive prowess. I encourage dancers to investigate and refine how they inhabit form while dismantling fixed ideas of virtuosity rooted in European classical traditions. Students are asked to move beyond replication—to become critical and empowered authors of their own movement histories and futures.

My technique classes, such as "Technical Practice for the Adventurous Dancer"and "Ballet for the Bold", are designed to support dancers in cultivating alignment, balance, expansion, strength, and grace across a range of styles and aesthetics. Drawing from Release Technique, Graham, Breakdancing, and Yoga, these courses emphasize connection between the imagination, anatomy, and environment. My improvisation and partnering classes, like "Intentional Animal" and "Looking Outfrom the Inside", provide a lab-like space to experiment with tone, intention, risk, and spatial awareness—building both creative courage and ensemble sensitivity.

For general audiences, I’ve developed inclusive and joy-forward electives such as “Every Body” and “Pop Up Star”, which focus on body positivity, musicality, rhythm, and access to expressive freedom. These classes center radical inclusivity and cultural celebration, particularly for students from historically excluded communities or those returning to dance after time away. I always offer multiple entry points into the material, with room for modification and embellishment to ensure accessibility for all levels and abilities.

In my classrooms, I prioritize dialogue, authorship, and inquiry. I intentionally redesign conventional structures to create a “think tank” environment, where students are encouraged to bring their lived experiences into the room. Whether through small group work, collective composition, one-on-one feedback, or open discussion, I aim to build a learning culture that values risk-taking, curiosity, and mutual respect. I consistently invite students to reframe what is considered beautiful, valuable, and strong in movement—encouraging a conscious unlearning of bias and hierarchy.

My mentoring philosophy mirrors my classroom ethos. I meet students where they are and strive to create safe, accountable, and empowering relationships that support their growth. At Shawl-Anderson, I mentor teaching artists, young professionals, and emerging choreographers in curriculum design, creative process, and community-building. I also support artists in grant writing, production planning, and professional development, helping them navigate a complex field with clarity and confidence. Many of the students and artists I’ve mentored have gone on to perform professionally, run organizations, and return to graduate study.

Looking ahead, I am deeply committed to developing courses that challenge dominant dance histories, celebrate cultural hybridity, and reflect the socio-political realities of our time. I plan to continue designing curricula that include dance practices outside of the Western canon, and to further my research into pedagogy that integrates embodied identity, decolonial frameworks, and justice-informed methodologies. I am especially excited about creating interdisciplinary partnerships with faculty across dance, theater, design, cultural studies, and critical theory, and contributing to research environments where students of all backgrounds can thrive, question, and lead. In class, I see a powerful opportunity to nurture the next generation of dancers and thinkers through a pedagogy that is rigorous, inclusive, and alive. I believe dance education can cultivate whole people—responsive, imaginative, resilient, and socially engaged—and I am committed to building classrooms where every student is invited to feel deeply, think critically, and move freely.

schedule

Weekly Drop in Classes on Tuesdays Intermediate/Advanced Contemporary Technique
10am-11.30am through Shawl-Anderson Dance Center at Bandaloop Studios

Technical practice for the adventurous dancer

Adv/Pro Contemporary Technique

Amplify the tenor of the body through a fierce, focused flow that generates a central heat that radiates energy out our most distal ends. Joints are tended to individually as cells swell with three dimensionality. Hands and feet become interchangeably strong and supple; able to articulate as easily as they anchor. The spine and whole trunk inflate, finding full range of motion while the limbs create grace, extension, scaffolding and balance. Floor work and inversions are emphasized and connected to sound vertical alignment. Focus on creating an astute, organized and supple body relating to spatial, architectural and human connections in a resilient and playful way. Practice honing patience and pleasure seeking response systems while learning tactics for staying pliant and resourceful. Experiment with instability and risk; explore ways of staying powerfully open and available. Design tone, create rebound, pave the way towards fun, wholeness and triumph. Go out on a limb for the delicious dance. Classes volley between sequential structures and highly devised scores, so as to exercise logic and creativity in equal parts. Class is strongly influenced by Yoga, Break dancing, Lewitzky, Graham, Contact Improvisation and Release. 

intentional animal

Available at all levels

In contact improvisation and partnering, focus will be on creating astute, organized and supple bodies relating to spatial, architectural and human connections in a resilient and playful way. Practice will include learning tactics for staying pliant and resourceful, experiments with instability, risk and balance and explorations of staying powerfully open and available. Tone, extension, rebound and articulation are all strategies class will investigate as we go out on a limb for the delicious and decadent dance.

SPONTANEOUS COMPOSITION

Available at all levels

Solo Exploration is balanced with Ensemble Architecture; both practices of sculpting the outside eye of the performer/s inside the performative moment. In a laboratory like set up, students will experiment with grounded, spontaneous choice making tactics. Using a somatic lens, class will isolate Time, Space, Vocabulary, Intention and Context as improvisational tactics for building spontaneous compositions. Imaginative ways of creating and honing improvisational scores gives the class creative and destructive power and the ability to stake claim on the moment over and again.

pop up star

Available at all levels

Citing Janet Jackson as her sage since age 8, Bianca has been in a deep study of all things pop since shoulder pads and acid washed everything. Consider her a Pop culture contemplative. As a missionary of musical pleasures, Bianca has taught oodles of devotees dances from music videos from icons such as Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Pat Benatar, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and more. Pull out your neon, your spandex, your red leather jackets and high tops and take your 15 minutes of fame in this cinematic dance experience. Feel supple, at ease and at home in your body as you transform into your favorite music video star. An all-levels class for dancers and dance dreamers alike.

every body

Available at all levels

Raise your hands and hold the torch for the body lovin’ revolution that starts here. Forget about media stigmas, trends and body ideals. This class is for heart pounding, foot stomping, hair whipping and hip jiggling. Fall in love with body rocking beats that root out confidence and pleasure. Tap into the deep desires to get down, get heavy, get sweaty. Easy floor patterning, basic footwork, break dancing, body isolations and repetition create a platform for courage, coordination, interpretation, and strength. Classes are accessible for all levels, options for modifying and embellishing are always given.

BALLET FOR BRAVEHEARTS

Available at all levels

This class focuses on anatomically sound technique and alignment driving us through a range of dynamic expression while working towards a strong, flexible and articulate body. Rhythm, musicality and fluency in Ballet vocabulary are used to access the joy of dancing. All genres of music are accessed to incite inclusivity and encourage relevancy, expression, community and inspiration. For the beginning, returning and brave.

past teaching commissions

AFUK/Sparrow Dance, Copenhagen, DK

Contra Costa School for the Performing Arts, CA

Sheridan College, WY

The Studios, WA

Bandaloop, CA

CounterPulse, CA

Oberlin Dance Collective (ODC), CA 

Shawl Anderson Dance Center, CA

Berkeley High School, CA 

LevyStudio, CA

Velocity Dance Center, WA

Seattle Festival Dance Improvisation (SFDI), WA

Cornish College of the Arts, WA

Colorado Dance Collective, CO 

HaLo, WA

University of Montana, MT

Western Washington University, WA 

Kenyon College, OH

Oberlin College, OH 

San Diego State University, CA

St. Olaf College, MN

Reed College, OR