TEACHING ARTIST SNAPSHOTS


Taryn Noelle


Annalisa Ledson


Sara McMahon SHOW CHOIR


“I’ve been here for about three seasons and it’s a blast. The Flynn name, it’s so powerful, and it’s beautiful. It’s just really cool to be a part of it. Show Choir is really about building confidence and building up a toolkit for these kids—voice, diction, speech work, singing, vocal work, acting technique, lots of different dance techniques, and choreography. The students have shared with us is that they really feel like they’re being heard, which is really wonderful—to have agency.”


MUSICAL THEATER DANCE & SHOW CHOIR


“I came from New York City where I was studying musical theater and dance, working as a choreographer and performer professionally, and teaching in the NYC public schools. My approach for teaching is really trusting that the students are a part of the process, and making sure that if there are ideas that are coming up, that those are all being honored. We really work together to make it a fun process. It’s been an awesome experience to be welcomed into the Flynn. It’s really exciting to see the community coming together around the arts so strongly, and especially in terms of education.”


MOVEMENT FOR PARKINSON’S & WELLNESS


“We started the class in 2014 and we’ve been continuing on every year. So many people see a disability as a limitation and so I’m always working on the students’ potential—really stretching the limits of those boundaries. Mark Morris has a saying: ‘Anybody can dance.’ And that’s so true, given this population. It’s just been such a gift as a teacher to teach such a willing and courageous group of dancers. We don’t talk about PD symptomology, because dancers focus on all the same things that people with Parkinson’s have to focus on: flexibility, range of motion, strength, endurance, performance, and the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of life.”


MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ANDREA & STEVE CHAREST


PETRA CLIFFS CLIMBING CENTER & MOUNTAINEERING SCHOOL


HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MEMBERS?


We have been members for four years, since our first involvement with Over the Edge for the Flynn in 2016.


WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A MEMBER?


When the Flynn asked us to become a main sponsor for the event, it seemed like a natural partnership. We were able to provide training to give more confidence to Edgers, and our knowledge of the vertical world helped the process run more smoothly the day of the event. With our partnership/membership we get to support a great event that benefits the Flynn, and in turn, the community.


WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK THE FLYNN PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY?


Every time I see a school bus in front of the Flynn, I think about how lucky those kids are to have a field trip that day. Even as an adult, my worldview has expanded from sitting in a seat at the Flynn. We are fortunate to have a connection to the arts, and the Flynn’s focus on accessibility makes our community much richer.


WHY ARE FLYNN PERFORMANCES ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL FOR YOU?


All Flynn performances for us spark joy, wonder, and so much fun. We will never forget one performance in particular: Hot Brown Honey. The show had been recommended by Flynn staff but we had no idea what to expect. Steve had been struggling with double vision and nerve damage in one eye. During the performance he turned to me and said, “You know, this is the first time I have felt normal in a very long time.” Within a couple days, his double vision had gone away. Who knows if it was a coincidence, but we’ll always associate a healing moment with that show!


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