You bring an extraordinary combination of technical and pedagogical skill, historical and political knowledge, and generosity of spirit to these sessions. I appreciate it so much.
- Judith Hamera, PhD, Professor, Program in Dance, Princeton University
I LOVE your teaching style. It is very loving and very simple... refined to what you need to understand. The dance is not simple, so it's good that your teaching style is. (Simple in the zen way.)
- Farai Chideya, Author, Political and Cultural Analyst, Educator
I’ve never been moved to write a thank you note to a professor before, but that is probably because I’ve never had an instructor facilitate such a wonderfully immersive and holistically-designed course as you have with Afro-Cuban Dance…First and foremost, I wanted to thank you for introducing me to Afro-Cuban dance and for doing so each day with such thoughtfulness, patience, care, passion, and joy. Although I came into the class without any particular personal connection to the dance form, getting to experience it through your sustained guidance and encouragement (as well as through the drummers’ invaluable perspectives) allowed me to develop a deep reverence and appreciation for the culture– one that has wholly transformed my outlook on so many things, from dance to gender performance to spirituality to institutionalism. Your enthusiasm and dedication to engaging with the material in an authentic and honest way was absolutely infectious and I think it's what made our space feel so vibrant and safe and judgment-free from the outset…While my knowledge of the course material has grown immensely over this past semester, what has stuck with me the most has been the growth in confidence and self-awareness that I’ve been able to develop through Afro-Cuban Dance– with each class, I was able to gradually let go of my anxieties and fears, and lean more into the rhythm of the drums, the intuitive movement of my body, and the underlying meaning of the dance forms.
- Makena Kiara, Columbia University ‘22
Rebecca approaches all of her teaching with such generosity & expertise, and creates environments where students with a huge range of dance experience can walk away with something beautiful to consider until the next class. She leads with warmth, and everyone in the room is not only presented with new information about Afro-Cuban dance & culture, but often her classes offer an opportunity for New Yorkers to engage with other people in ways they usually wouldn't. Rebecca is a thoughtful and conscientious bearer of this music & dance, and has afforded so many dancers a portal into Cuban folklórico, where they can opt to just learn the movement, or endeavor on a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the culture and history that shapes the expression. Rebecca embodies both a guide and a fellow traveler, which is such a gift to find in a teacher!
- Gabrielle Davenport, Creative Producer and Programmer
Rebecca is a truly transformative dance educator. Whether she is working with beginners or professionals, her practice is rooted in profound respect for her students, her pedagogical craft, and the integrity of the forms she teaches. Inviting participants into a fully embodied experience of dance which engages them kinesthetically, emotionally, socially and intellectually, Rebecca holds space for rigorous artistic work that supports the multifaceted growth of each dancer and the group as a whole. In her experienced hands, the dance education space becomes a site of alchemy where robust physical practice, thoughtful scholarship and self-reflection yield not just exquisite artistry, but also breakthrough moments of healing, expanded consciousness, and collective joy.
- Kate Quarfordt, Co-founder of City School of the Arts, Artist, Educator
I just wanted to let you know how much everything you have taught me has meant to me. It's something that I will take with me always...I always enjoyed your little lectures on dance and how it relates to life or the history of Cuban music/dance and how it relates to modern salsa today.
- Vin, Salsero, Data Analyst
This class has meant so much to me over the years. First of all, the class feels good. When I started, I knew in my bones that I loved dancing but had never been able to express that on a dance floor. I was also hesitant to put myself out there creatively in any way. Not only do I now love expressing myself creatively on the dance floor, but the creativity carries over to the rest of my life. My brain also seems to have been rewired and is healthier. I can remember complex choreographic patterns that I would never have been able to in the past.
- Frank Hardart, Owner, Educate LLC