Celebrating National Teaching Artists Appreciation Week!

It’s National Teaching Artists Appreciation Week! All weeks, but this week especially, we at Arts Ignite celebrate the incredible talents, energy, and dedication of our wonderful Teaching Artists. Day in and day out, they inspire our students to be their best selves, helping them build essential life skills in the process. This week, we’ll be sharing just some of the amazing Teaching Artists that make our work possible, so be sure to check back to learn more as we go along.

Brian

First up, we have Brian, aka Mr. Taptastic. An accomplished tap dancer, Audelco Award winner, and featured finalist on HBO Max’s Second Chance Stage, Brian inspires our students to be just a little more “taptastic” every time he comes to the classroom. In programs like our Let’s Dance! Residency at The Young Women’s Leadership School of Staten Island and workshops with the New York City Department of Parks, Brian’s energy and focus on healthy communication is a consistent source of joy for our young people.

Aida

Next we have Aida, one of our Visual Arts Teaching Artists. A multimedia artist originally from Kyrgyzstan, Aida brings a unique perspective and experience that has helped her form deep and meaningful connections with young people in programs like the Newcomer Youth Summer Academy (NYSA). With a passion for using creativity to promote social change, Aida helps youth from immigrant backgrounds connect with their identities and see their artistic expression as a force for good.

Reuben

Meet Reuben – our resident storytelling savant. Over an extensive career in fiction writing he has written for the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mystery series for Simon and Schuster, and a Batman picture book for Penguin Random House/DC Comics. Through creative writing workshops for Arts Ignite programs like the Newcomer Youth Theater Experience (NYTE) and Arts Ignite Waterloo!, Reuben helps our young people develop their storytelling skills. With his mentorship, we’ve seen help them step out of their comfort zones, find their voices, and process challenges in their lives.

Thembile

This week would not be complete without mentioning the important work of our International Teaching Artists. Thembile has been part of the Arts Ignite family for over 10 years, and serves as Associate Artistic Director for our artsINSIDEOUT program in Johannesburg, South Africa. A truly wonderful multidisciplinary artist, Thembile’s work is at the core of Arts Ignite’s international impact. Beyond an infectious energy that inspires in students a sense of community and creativity, Thembile has been invaluable in cultivating the next generation of Teaching Artists. He has become a mentor to many newer Teaching Artists, and helps lead many of our Professional Development programs in Africa.

Morgan

Last but certainly not least we have Morgan, one of our Dance and Theater Teaching Artists. Since 2019, Morgan has experienced the full range of Arts Ignite’s programming, teaching with us locally, nationally, and internationally. Outside of her work with us, Morgan has made numerous Broadway and off-Broadway appearances, and is currently featuring in Boop on Broadway. An incredible dancer and actress, Morgan always helps our students tell their stories with amazing creativity and beauty in programs like NYTE and the Let’s Dance! residency.

This National Teaching Artists Appreciation Week, we invite you to join Arts Ignite and all of our Teaching Artists in making an ongoing commitment to the young people in our programs. As a monthly donor, you maximize your longterm impact, empowering young people through the arts for years to come. This isn’t just a donation – it’s an investment in the next generation of storytellers, leaders, and change makers. Click below to start your monthly gift today!