“I believe we teachers should never forget what it is like to be a student.”
destiney daniels
Destiney began dancing at age 3 and even at a small age, was completely emerged with the sounds and movements that surrounded her. Beginning at age 11, she was assisting in classes with dancers ages 2 years old to age 12 years old. By age 13, she was teaching and choreographing her own works.
Destiney is passionate about learning the best way to educate young dancers. She understands the diversity in a classroom and how no dancer is the same. She is focused on creating a positive yet successful environment that can be molded to each dancer and their particular way of learning. She explains this by stating…
“While dance has offered me a creative space and an outlet of feelings, I have also had some experiences throughout my years in this art that have in the past damaged the way I look at myself, on and off of the marley dance floors. Sometimes leaders in this field forget how vulnerable the arts can be not only as a holistic study but to a person independently as well.
My goal is to find a more constructive way to push my dancers towards success while ensuring they, and myself, continues to grow in their technique as well as ability to perform, to tell the story with their movements, and to be confident themselves to do so. I believe change is a necessary part of life and that it can be done successfully in the world of dance with communication and trust to be vulnerable. I believe we teachers should never forget what it is like to be a student. If we are able to remember this time in our lives, we can use these tools to more effectively teach the new artists that are waiting to bloom.”
“She is focused on creating a positive yet successful environment that can be molded to each dancer and their particular way of learning.”
learn more about Destiney
A dancer, instructor, choreographer, and BFA graduate from the University North Carolina School of the Arts.
Destiney comes from a small town, Goldsboro, North Carolina where she received training under Crystal Boudy at Studio 33 Dance Company and Artistic Dance Academy. Her senior year in high school, she trained with Greenville Civic Ballet.
Outside of her dance studies Destiney began instructing classes at the age of 15. Her teaching experience has included instruction for students ranging from 2 to 20 in various styles including contemporary, ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, and hip hop. At age 13 Destiney choreographed her first duet that was awarded first place. This experience led her to explore her interest in choreography and she went on to create several ensemble, solo, and duo pieces for studio recitals, auditions, and competitions. Many of her choreographed competition routines have placed first overall and won judges awards. In 2022, Destiney designed and began her own summer dance intensive where she assists students in technique, resume building, audition tips, and choreography.
Destiney graduated with her BFA from UNCSA where she immersed herself in multiple techniques such as Limón taught by Sean Sullivan, Cunningham taught by Brenda Daniels, as well as Countertechnique taught by Kira Blazek-Ziaii, and many others. Destiney hopes to continue her passion for dance education by pursuing her Master’s Degree in Dance, and continuing to instruct future dancers in local studios and via her summer dance intensive.
Destiney Daniels
Destiney Daniels
Photos by Rebecca Bartik and Brent LaFever