Supervisor and Director

LA TOYA JAMES

** ***** **** ****, ***** NJ ***** · 323-***-****

Email · ********************@*****.***

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY: National Dance Institute (NDI) Certified Dance Assistant with extensive experience working with children and students through the Trenton Education Dance Institute (TEDI) programs and Dream Makers Dance Studios. Background includes twenty-three years’ experience teaching and assistant teaching ballet, modern, lyrical, jazz and tap to students in pre-k through twelfth providing choreography, teacher and student support, and creativity that motivates children.

EXPERIENCE

OCTOBER 2020, Supervisor, tedi Children home society

I created choreography for 8 to 9 different classes ranging from 5th -8th grade for the last two years. I had over 100 children in the program per year. I created creative ways to teach them dance terminology in a fun and practical way. They also learned varies different dance games that incorporated dance steps they would use in the group dances, which is something I learned in my NDI training. I taught them stage direction and etiquette. I worked with the students on self-esteem, self-control and discipline. They also learned to count out dance steps with music.

JUNE 2012-PRESENT

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR /OWNER, dream makers dance studios

As the artistic director/owner of dream makers dance studios, I perform several roles. I run the day to day school operations alongside my co- director and administrative assistant. My responsibility includes, head choreographer for my competition dance team and studio classes. I teach varies different genres of dance, modern, horton, lyrical, jazz, ballet, musical theater, tap, contemporary, pointe and many more. I have a staff of 8 independent contractors that report directly to me, we have bi-month staff meeting. I’m also a mentor to my students, day and night I have created a mentoring/teacher assistant program, which help my students grow the skills and knowledge needed to become a well-rounded dance instructor in the future.

EDUCATION

JULY 2017-AUGUST 2017

NDI CERTIFIED TRAINING, NATIONL DANCE INSITITUTE

I was certified to teach the pedagogy of NDI, which instill confidence in all students to love, enjoy and have fun learning to dance.

AUGUST 2001-MAY 2006

BACHELOR OF ARTS, howard university

I studied dance in college, performing arts, communications, radio, tv and film production. I was on deans list for several years and graduated with honors from the school of communications and fine arts. I danced with the Show Time Marching Band at Howard University.

SEPTEMBER 1998-JUNE 2001

DIPLOMA, TRENTON CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

I was a varsity cheerleader all four year, I ran track and performed at different city fundraisers for Trenton Central Hig School and the mayor of Trenton, Doug Palmer. Who sent me to perform on behalf of the city of Trenton at the world-famous Apollo and I won 1st place.

TRAINING/SKILLS

23yrs of experience teaching dance and performing

I trained at Alvin Ailey Dance on scholarship for three years

I was a Philadanco 2 company member

I trained at Dance Theater of Harlem on scholarship

I was in a national and international singing group, that traveled to London

I completed NDI Certified Training 2017 and NDI student training 2016

DANCE AWARDS

I won first place in the national television show on Oxygen Network called, Dance Your A** Off! I studied at the ACTeen for Drama, Commercial and Improv, and holds several titles including NJ Junior Miss of Mercer County, Mercer County ACT-SO, Hal Jackson Talented Teen, All American Teen Model and All-American Model. As a former member of Danco 2 Philadanco Company. LaToya is also a first-place winner at the Apollo Theater in NY, and a NAACP-ACT-SO Gold Place Winner in NJ. LaToya has been honored and awarded the Joint Legislative Resolution as the Champion of DYAO and was also commended as a woman of strong character and exceptional determination resolved and agreed upon by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey for Service in the community through dance education.

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