Educator

Tiana  has worked as a theatre educator for over ten years at some of the premier theatre organizations in our nation along-side leading thinkers and practitioners world-wide in the field of theatre education. Tiana has experience in all areas of theatre education, from creative dramatics, to the technical training of new actors in basic acting, movement, and voice, to pushing experienced artists to new heights through utilizing specific theatre techniques like viewpoints, devising, playwriting, and performance of classical texts. 

Learn more about her education work below!

Education Director and Specialist

Education Direction & Specialist 

Tiana has served as the Education Director for DogEar Theatre Company, where she designed and facilitated after school workshops for 200+ preschool through high school aged students focused on devising, design, and characterization for the production, Between Two Worlds.

She also served as Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Education Specialist,. Here she created programming and curriculum, facilitated classes and camps, and created several series of Digital teaching and productions. 

She also, developed and facilitated curriculum for the Mainstage Student Series bringing over 2,000 young people into theatre and connecting the art they see on stage with their lives and the curriculum they are studying in school.

Select K-12 Teaching

Teaching Artist

Tiana has worked as a teaching artist for ten years. She has experience teaching theatre to ages 4 – 99. This work involved facilitating classes from creative drama & imaginative play to technical acting skills. 

She has been blessed to work with some of the leading theatre’s in the USA, including:

 

  • Asolo Repertory Theatre 
  • Nashville Children’s Theatre
  • Seattle Children’s Theatre 
  • Childsplay Theatre 
  • Disney Musicals in Schools 
  • Arizona State University (TYA)
  • CYT: Phoenix
  • Nashville Parks & Recreation
  • Joyful Light Youth Theatre 
  • Redemption Dance 

Elementary Theatre Teacher

Tiana designed and led theatre classes for 3rd and 4th grade, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of theatrical elements and techniques.

Specialized in facilitating elective courses such as costume design, improvisation, fostering creativity and self-expression.

High School Theatre Teacher

Tiana has served as the primary theatre teacher for both Arizona State University Preparatory Academy and Rio Grande Enrichment Studies. This included teaching drama classes for 8th- 12th grade students and leading the after school drama club. Skills taught included: basic acting, improvisation, movement, voice, directing, puppetry, and playwriting. 

Select University Level Teaching

 

Florida State University 

Arizona State University

Film Department: Teaching Assistant and Grader for in-person and online undergraduate film classes consisting of 100+ students:

  • FMP 201: Film: The Creative Process
  • FMP 250: Sex and Violence in Film
  • FMP 250: Ethics in Film
  • FMP 201: Film: The Creative Process
  • FMP 250: Sex and Violence in Film
  • FMP 250: Ethics in Film

Theatre Department 

  • Substitute teacher for the undergraduate level Theatre History class.  
  • Completed the course Creative Drama with Youth as a graduate level course in preparation for teaching the class at an undergraduate level. Lead teacher for several units.

Select Adult Facilitation & Teaching

Asolo Repertory’s Kaleidoscope Program

Tiana curated curriculum, coordinated teaching artists, and facilitated for Asolo Rep’s Kaleidoscope program. 

Kaleidoscope works with young people and adults with disabilities in order to bring theatre into life skill classes and assistance organizations.

Juried Conference/Papers & Presentations: 

“Activating Feedback: Critical Response Process Next Steps” AATE National Conference. Session Chair, Co-presented with Danica Rosengren. New York City

“Active Learning in Alternative Schooling: finding insights from TYA history” AATE National Conference. Session Chair, Co-presented with Kathy Kryzs. Minneapolis

“Base-Camp Devising: reclaiming myths through cross country collaboration” AATE National Conference. Co-presented with Danica Rosengren. Minneapolis

“Home Entertainments: using theatre to activate your curriculum” CAPE New Mexico Homeschool Convention. Albuquerque          

Why Does Tiana Think Theatre Education is Important?

Listen to this podcast on the Arts in Education by Asolo Rep where she co-hosts and guest stars. In it we discuss how theatre and arts  are vital to our education system. 

Digital Teaching

Tiana has created several different series of Digital video and text lessons. You can watch some of these on the Learn with Asolo Rep Playlist Here.