Ep. 156- Rosalynn Miller
Topics covered in this episode:
The history and education required to teach Hip Hop
The role of a Dance Educator
The lesson the took Roz the longest to learn as a teacher
How we can empower students beyond the dance studio
Rosalynn Miller graduated from Point Park University, Conservatory of Performing Arts, with two dance degrees in 2008. With a duel concentration in jazz dance and dance pedagogy (the art of teaching dance), Rosalynn, affectionately referred to as Roz by her students and peers, quickly landed teaching jobs at various prestigious dance establishments in the Pittsburgh area. While in college she was Vice President to the student hip hop dance group “Impulse”, first Hispanic President to the United Student Government at Point Park and maintained an apprenticeship through the COPA department all four years of her education. She fulfilled her apprenticeship working as a hip hop teacher for an after school dance program at McKees Rocks Middle School.
In an effort to continue her dance education, Roz attends an array of dance teacher conventions, seminars, workshops and classes to better serve her students and help strengthen the local dance community. The Dance Teacher Summit in New York, More Than Just Great Dancing with Misty Lown and Dance Masters of Pennsylvania are just some of the dance teacher functions she regularly attends throughout the year.
Roz is the owner and artistic dance director of Synergy Performing Arts Academy located in Canonsburg, Pa. Her students perform in local parades and community charity events. The Synergy Dance Company trains and competes at a competitive level. Roz’s choreography has received recognition at both regional and national levels and has received multiple award winning titles. Synergy just celebrated their 10th year anniversary.
Outside of teaching, Roz judges for local dance competitions and talent shows. She has judged for Showbiz National Talent Competition and On Stage America dance competition. She is proud to be one of the founding 15 members of More Than Just Great Dancing, “MTJGD”, with Misty Lown, the PA Charter member of MTJGD, and a MTJGD certified Coach . In 2014 Roz was accepted into Dance Masters of America (Pa chapter 10), Dance Educators of America (Pittsburgh chapter) in 2015, and in 2019 she was awarded “Dance Educator of the Year” by GROOVE dance competition at their Myrtle Beach Nationals. In July of 2019 she was honored to be on the faculty and present business seminars at the NYC Dance Teacher Summit. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and playing with her son, a cancer survivor, Cruz!
