In performing arts education, there are some students who love the spotlight, and others who just love to be there, participating, without the pressure and responsibility of being the lead role. Samuel Auguste was one of the latter. Tune in to learn three of the most important lessons Sam learned during his time in the rehearsal studio and on stage. Blog at staceytirro.com
Watch on YouTube Changed for the Better Theme: written and performed by Brianna Knight Graphic Design: Michael DelPup © Changed for the Better, 2023
Not all of my guests craved the spotlight. Some were very happy behind-the-scenes, putting their production talents to good use in quieter ways. Matthew Hochberg, class of 1998, spent his senior year assimilating back into public school life through Thespian Troupe 721. There, he leaned on the safe community as he figured out what would inspire his future. Changed for the Better Blog Changed for the Better Theme: written and performed by Brianna Knight Graphic Design: Michael DelPup © Changed for the Better, 2023
A running theme on this podcast is the non-linear path to now. Whether for a change of heart or change of circumstance, the road people take often diverge multiple times from the one they set out upon. Sometimes, you have a few guardian angels to help lead the way. From teen mom to LPN to NP, Esskee Nance-Doucet has climbed mountainous terrain in order to smell the sweet, clean air of success. Tune in for her story. Changed for the Better Blog Changed for the Better Theme: written and performed by Brianna Knight Graphic Design: Michael DelPup © Changed for the Better, 2023
Tina Vasquez is the owner and CEO of Emerging Equity, a consulting firm that focuses on cultural transformation in institutions and systems. Tune in to hear how this powerhouse entrepreneur, mom, and dancing queen used the lessons from the studio to tap into her creativity, intuition, and find her voice. Blog: staceytirro.com Music: written and performed by Brianna Knight Graphic Design: Michael DelPup ©Changed for the Better, 2023
Welcome to season four! Ornely Aubourg was one of my tried and true students, my tiny dancer, so to speak. In school, the dance studio was her safe space, a leotard and tights was her outfit of choice, and being in the spotlight was her comfort zone. Now, this working mom is a healer and a teacher as a first responder. Tune in to learn how she has connected her performing arts training to her role as an EMT. Blog: staceytirro.com Music: written and performed by Brianna Knight Graphic Design: Michael DelPup ©Changed for the Better, 2023
Welcome to the final episode of season three of "Changed for the Better!" I can't think of a better person to have join me for this momentous occasion.
Karema Brown has an educator's heart. Her mission is to do all she can to improve the school experience for her kids. Tune in to hear her story of service, how she processed her complicated roles as a Black woman, educator, and daughter of the badge, and how the dance studio taught her that vulnerability is a strength to be cherished.
Read the blog at staceytirro.com
Watch the full episode on YouTube
MUSIC written and performed by: Brianna Knight
GRAPHIC design: Michael DelPup
Joseph "Royalty" Wallace, once a pulsing ball of energy, has focused his creativity and discipline to become a successful man in finance and entrepreneurship. Trustco Bank manager by day, owner of House of Kings, LLC after hours, and always a family man. Tune in to learn how dance was the catalyst for his leap into leadership.
Read the blog at staceytirro.com
Watch the full episode on YouTube
MUSIC written and performed by: Brianna Knight
GRAPHIC design: Michael DelPup
Bria Manning is someone who sees what she wants and she gets it. Back in high school, she poured her energy into the Spring Valley community as a class officer, cheerleader, and active Thespian and dancer. Now entrenched in her quarter-century status, she is finding ways to balance the requirements of adulting with her need for community, creativity and dancing. Tune in to hear her story!
Watch the full episode on YouTube
MUSIC: Brianna Knight
GRAPHIC: Michael DelPup
Episode 37 features Rushane Dunn, the first alum to be profiled from the class of 2019!
Rushane is a delightful person who always makes me smile. Always ambitious and high-achieving, he is now finishing his senior year at Brown University. We talked about his dual passions for STEM and performing arts, being at the precipice of his adulthood and his impending journey into medicine. Learn how his time in the studio and on the stage in high school propelled him to become a leader in college, and how it helped to shape the outstanding person he is today.
Click to read about Rushane on the blog!
MUSIC: Brianna Knight
GRAPHIC: Michael DelPup
In part two of Episode 36, Nathalie Alcime (class of 2007) and I talk about how her time in the dance studio helped to give her more confidence in her own skin when it came to dance performance. As her confidence grew, she learned how to walk proudly in her experience, even when she made mistakes. Learning to fail forward became the key to her standing up to the looming imposter syndrome that often gets in the way of our success. Read the blog at staceytirro.com ~ Changed for the Better Podcast https://staceytirro.com/category/changed-for-the-better/ Music: Brianna Knight
Graphic: Michael DelPup
©Stacey Tirro 2023
My guest for episode 36 is Nathalie Alcime, class of 2007. Nathalie's passion for music has taken her on quite a journey, full of twists, turns and lots of unexpected detours. This is the first of a two-part episode. Part one highlights how my connection with Nathalie led to the creation of a beautiful performance opportunity that examines the slow awakening to the discourse of social justice. Sometimes, terrible events can actually give birth to some beautiful things. The song she performs for this episode is called "Now?", a collaboration between myself and my episode 6 guest, Hernz Laguerre, Jr. Read the blog at staceytirro.com ~ Changed for the Better Podcast https://staceytirro.com/category/changed-for-the-better/ MUSIC "Now?" Music by Stacey Tirro Lyrics by Hernz Laguerre, Jr. © Stacey Tirro and Hernz Laguerre, Jr. 2020
CHANGED FOR THE BETTER
Music: Brianna Knight
Graphic: Michael DelPup
©Stacey Tirro 2023
What a treat to chat with my episode 35 guest: Darian Garner, the valedictorian of the class of 2013. A perfect blend of brilliance, kindness and humility, Darian graciously shared her stories about navigating the challenges of being Black in an Ivy League school, losing her mom, becoming an actuary, and growing into her independence.
Prepare to be inspired.
Music: Bensound
In this episode, I chat with Melissa Iglody from the class of 2012, the class that included Hernz Laguerre, Jr. (episode 6) and Tendrina Alexandre (episode 10). Melissa Iglody's bright, bubbly personality infused positivity and a lively spark to our performing arts community. She learned how to bring her best self into everything she does (there are no small parts!) and extended those lessons into college and her adult life. Music: "Hey" Bensound Blog at staceytirro.com
Sometimes, in your teaching career, you cross paths with a superhero. These are the kids with an activist spirit, aware of the inequities of the world, and somehow possess the energy and drive to try to do something about it. Tune in to learn about Melissa Denizard, Spring Valley's own superhero, and how she continues the social justice activism she started in her home town as she melds it with her exploding artistic vision through her alter-ego, MELLY. Music: "Hey" Bensound Read the blog at staceytirro.com
Dara Orlando is somewhat of a Thespian legend. Before she became the working mom/corporate executive for JP Morgan that she is today, she was one of my very first dance students at Spring Valley. She brought her prior training to my classroom, helping me to build the foundation for a long and prosperous career. She also discovered her penchant for comedy in my first Thespians fall drama, “The Worst High School Play in the World” where, as a sophomore, she hilariously played a queen whose crown was a car hubcap. She spent the rest of her time in high school dabbling in different facets of theater, learning how to focus lights in crew and singing and dancing in the musicals, and of course, making people laugh. Tune in to learn what Dara discovered from her high school arts experiences and how she carries those life lessons with her today. Music: "Hey" Bensound Blog at staceytirro.com
WELCOME TO SEASON 3!! My guest for episode 31 takes us back to the class of 2003. A self-professed “Jane of all trades” and Heartland Emmy nominee, Marie Casimir discovered her passion for everything the arts had to offer during high school, when she immersed herself in dance and Thespians. We talk about overcoming the natural self-doubt that so many adolescents and creators have on their journey, and how she now shares her voice and vision with the world through her own company, Djaspora Productions. Music: "Hey" Bensound Blog: staceytirro.com
Is there a gentle doctor in the house? Pretty soon, there will be!
My episode 30 guest will become Dr. Dwayne Gentle in the spring of 2023. What better way to close out season 2 than to talk to a formerly hyper-vigilant adolescent about his path to being more spontaneous, changing his mindset, surviving medical school and living life exactly how he wants to live it.
Music: "Hey" Bensound
La Presidenta is in the house!
This tiny force of nature was a Thespian staple. She had taken notice of our drama club in middle school when she came to see 42nd Street. In that moment, she made a decision: by the time her senior year rolled around, she would be our troupe leader.
Challenge accepted.
In episode 29, Jessica and I discuss mentorship, embracing your ability (despite a touch of imposter syndrome), and learning how to figure things out.
Music: "Hey" Bensound
As we go through life, our identity is defined by the things we do and the relationships we hold dear.
In Changed for the Better episode 28, Jacqueline Smith-Musselman reflects on all of her identifiers, including the bliss (and terrors) of motherhood and her dream job as a Kindergarten teacher. We also talk about the benefits of therapy, being joyful, and the struggle to maintain balance.
Music: "Hey" Bensound
The theme for episode 27 is centered around social-emotional learning (SEL). So much valuable knowledge was shared in this conversation about how arts education activities support SEL for students. Listen to what Cesia Roman learned through her performing arts activities, and how she is now paying it forward to the adolescents in her home district.
One of the most satisfying things about being in the teaching profession is when you see your students paying it forward. Cesia Roman graduated from Spring Valley High School in 2017, earned her BS in Special Education at SUNY Cortland (in the middle of the pandemic), and has returned to our district as a social-emotional coach with the NICE team, an incredible organization whose title stands for Nurturing, Inclusive, Community, Environment. Five years after tossing her mortarboard, she is now providing the students in her home community the same safe space and caring support that embraced her when she was growing up.
Music: "Hey" Bensound
