This self-reflexive essay addresses issues of teaching and pedagogy for social change in the Trump era. It places current teaching reflections in the context of the history of the corporatization of the university, systemic inequities in academia, and current political debates. It expands upon the structure of a teaching philosophy in order to share critical reflection, relevant sources, and pedagogical strategies drawn from the author’s experience teaching in dance departments.
Articles by Ellen Gerdes
Ellen Gerdes is a PhD candidate in Culture and Performance at UCLA. Her dissertation focuses on intersections of politics and performance in Hong Kong. After earning her Master’s degree in dance education from Temple University, she taught at Bucknell, Drexel, Rowan, and Temple Universities. Her writing has been published in Asian Theatre Journal, Cultural Studies/Critical Methodologies, Dance Chronicle, Journal of Dance Education, Journal of Emerging Dance Scholarship, and the anthology, New Directions in Asian American Dance. In 2007, the Association for Asian Performance awarded her the Emerging Scholars award. She performs in Los Angeles as a dancer and singer.