Arianna Ballabio, teaching artist

I am a dancer, dance teacher and teaching artist. Originally from Italy, I have recently moved to NYC. I have been practicing and teaching belly dance, flamenco, dance theater and creative movement. At present my activities focus mainly on creative movement and Bharatanatyam, a classical dance theater form from India, that I have been studying and teaching in the last 20 years. I also have a background in yoga, mindfulness and meditation in the tradition of Zen Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Han. Mindfulness of breathing is a very important personal practice that deeply informs my movement practice and my teaching as well. Sharing my love for dance and movement with children fills me with joy and enthusiasm and I put all my heart and soul into it. I graduated from the Teaching Artist Project (TAP 2022-23), organized by Community Word Project and I am a member of NYCAER. I have been teaching creative movement and dance theater in NYC public and private schools, mainly with students from K to 5th grade. I believe in the importance of exploring the cultural roots of the community we are born into, but I think it is equally important to value and respect other cultures. And I believe the Arts can play a very important role in allowing students to get to know different cultures and learning to respect all differences. As an immigrant and a person who lived in different Countries in order to learn the Art Form I am so passionate about, I feel a deep commitment to be aware and supportive of the difficulties encountered by immigrant students in adjusting to a new reality here in NYC. I also feel that creative movement and dance represent a crucial way to explore and express oneself, beyond language barriers. And I believe each and every child should have the opportunity to experience that. My teaching is also focused on the importance of respecting and healing the beautiful Planet we all live on. My lessons always contain a deep sense of connection, kindness and respect towards Nature and all beings with whom we share our life on this wonderful Planet.