Lindsey Quigley can’t wait to take what she has learned the past four years in the UA dance department and make dreams come true for young dancers as a teacher.
Quigley plans to help hearing impaired dancers at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind in Tucson. Not only will she apply her dance skills and knowledge from the four-year journey, but Quigley will also be able to share a perspective that the students can relate to.
This is because Quigley herself is hearing impaired. This has not prevented her from achieving dreams, though. With the help of visual aids like gestures and counting, Quigley is able to do what she loves most-dance.
“”I want to show (the students) that being deaf does not mean that you cannot do (what) others can do,”” she said via an e-mail interview. “”I am hoping that one day, the stereotype among many people will be broken.””
Quigley, who volunteers at ASDB teaching dance to elementary-aged children, hopes to become a certified dance teacher and develop a program that fits in the curriculum for hearing impaired children from elementary through high school.
“”I am hoping to bring dance to hearing impaired children, allowing them to experience dance in fun and enjoyable way,”” Quigley said.
A member of the UA Dance Ensemble, Quigley has also performed and competed for A Tucson Dance Company for 11 years.
“”When I am dancing, it gives me a fresh perspective on life everyday; I am grateful for being able to do something that I never thought I could do because I am deaf,”” Quigley said.
Quigley was named the 2007 Winter Graduation Outstanding Senior in Dance, which is, she said, “”the most exciting accomplishment”” she has achieved thus far in her dance career.
“”I have learned so much more than just dancing,”” Quigley said of her experience in the UA dance program. “”It has taught me to be able to take on challenges in order to become a better dancer.””
Quigley has performed in many of the UA Dance Ensemble productions, and recently worked on her senior dance project with choreographer and professor, Susan Quinn.
“”In the dance program at the UA, there is a wonderful sense of spirit and love among many dancers and professors,”” she said. “”It allows each individual to grow and explore new things that will help them with their career, like it did for me.””
Quigley said she has developed a sense of patience and inner strength that will help her take her craft and teach it to children who wish to dance, yet might hold back because of being deaf.
“”Without (the dance department’s) support and faith in me, I would never have this opportunity to do something that I desire the most; being able to teach dance to the deaf,”” she said.
