Educational Background/Training
BFA Dance Performance from Chapman University Magna Cum Laude
About the Artist/Ensemble
Teri Miller Buschman has found a home in central Virginia teaching and performing dance to students. She is passionate about providing the art of dance to all people regardless of cultural, socio-economic, or mental and physical abilities. It has been proven that dance helps individuals cognitively, emotionally, physically, and socially.
Through her teaching, she aims to inspire and build confidence in each student. Not only are students learning the art and disciple of dance but it is vital that they believe in themselves and develop their own voice in this world. Teri has trained at Steps, Broadway Dance Center, Mark Morris, Lou Conte, and Gus Giordano studios, as well as on scholarship at Alvin Ailey and River North Dance Chicago. While on the west coast, Teri danced professionally with Ballet Unlimited, Disneyland, and the NBA Clippers. In NYC, she was a company member of Nai Ni Chen Dance, Ballet Hispanico, Infinity Dance Theater, Michael Mao Dance, Darrah Carr Dance, and Synthesis Dance Project. She has also had the opportunity to work with photographer Louis Greenfield for various dance companies and for Orangina’s advertisement, ‘Shake That Orangina’. Mrs. Buschman has toured throughout the United States and in Mexico, the United Kingdom, Eastern Europe, China, and Korea.
She has taught ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, and tap over the past twenty years for various dance studios and dance festivals across the country; and has served as Ballet Mistress at Cambridge University in England. Teri had the unique opportunity to work for Arts Access at Matheny Medical and Education Center serving as a dance facilitator to individuals with complex medical disabilities. Since making Richmond, VA her home, Teri has served as the Director of Education, ballet master, choreographer, and company dancer/soloist for the Latin Ballet of Virginia. During her time with the Latin Ballet of Virginia, she created and implemented Dance as Therapy classes for the Latin Ballet School and The Faison Center. Teri is currently a Virginia Commissions of the Arts Teaching Artist and Greater Richmond Wolf Trap Teaching Artist where she creates and delivers arts-integrated lessons, workshops, and residencies. She also enjoys working with Partners in the Arts, and Arts Integrated Learning Workshops and had the honor of collaborating and presenting with Dr. Lisa Donavon at the 2019 Joan Oats Institute; Foundation of Arts Integration course. In 2018, Mrs. Miller Buschman founded Dance Infinity RVA, continuing her mission to make dance available to ALL. During the coronavirus pandemic, Teri offered donation-based virtual dance classes to build community and increase physical and mental health. She created a dance program, Infinity Spirit, that brings homeschool and senior communities together in RVA. The Infinity Spirit homeschool dance program focuses on building confidence and community through enriching dance residencies. Residencies culminate with students performing for and with seniors. Teri is extremely passionate about sharing her infinitely growing love and knowledge of dance with ALL, and helping students become the best version of themselves.
Educational Program Description
Workshops will expose students to basic dance techniques and dance elements within a selected style. A diverse amount of movement styles can be selected; ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop, tap, contemporary, and traditional/folk dances from Latin America and China. Participants will be exposed to basic concepts of anatomy and kinesiology that will give them an understanding of their body and joints and how to optimally use them. They will learn the origin and history of the selected dance style.Students will be inspired to express themselves through creative movement and find community and connection to others. Critical thinking skills will be used to analyze creative movement choices and to learn choreographic sequences. Participants will reflect upon choreographic studies.
Workshops can be coordinated to meet academic goals.
Residencies provide multiple workshops allowing students to dive deeper into a particular dance style(s), critical thinking skills, and self expression. Students will gain more knowledge in movement vocabulary and develop a better kinesthetic sense. Many opportunities will be provided for group collaboration and problem solving. There will be more art making. A residency can culminate with a mini performance showcasing students’ work and collaborations. Each residency will culminate with a true sense of pride and community.
All workshops and Residencies can be adapted to meet different physical and mental abilities
Audiences
- All Ages