A healthy co-existence means establishing mutual respect for ensemble members. Brandi aims to create an unbiased environment for all ensemble members to bravely embrace other cultural backgrounds and their own. A healthy co-existence is her precursor for welcoming authentic expression. Authentic expression is an effortless way of reassuring diversity and inclusivity. Authentic expression is evenly paired with self-reflection. The vulnerability of self-reflection is a tool that requires honesty, critical thinking and reevaluation. Self-reflection coupled with positive reinforcement builds an environment necessary for expanding one’s capabilities, resulting in inner healing/growth inside and outside of the class. She is a Performance Practitioner who fearlessly believes in the therapeutic benefits of theatre which cultivates and defines my 5-tier praxis.
She aims to establish a safe space for education and participation which starts with addressing the wide range of abilities. She enjoys introducing interactive learning activities to learn about students personally, academically, socially, emotionally and behaviorally. In this format, she is able to gauge social interaction, teamwork, leadership, the execution of instruction, creativity, in addition to exploring which learning devices are best for assessing the retention of new information.
Interactive learning has allowed her to set a standard to be a facilitator who is unafraid to share the power dynamic in the room. This concept of shared agency builds trust, confidence, and a two-way relationship that impacts not only academic improvement but self-improvement. She also addresses a wide range of skills and abilities by introducing practical resources which can be accessed outside of the classroom. This may include props, site specific explorations, and the use of mobile devices and contemporary references such as: cameras; Pinterest boards; podcasts; tiktoks; YouTube links and music. Lastly, incorporating time for self-reflection/ group reflections are routinely incorporated to reflect upon weaknesses, highlight strengths and assess progress.
