<Previous Teaching Artist - Next Teaching Artist > Isaac Shultz Reyes
Primary Discipline: Dance Additional Disciplines/Specialties: Folk art, Pinatas, Papier-mache masks, Paper flowers, Paper-cut banners, Amate bark painting
Based in: Olympia
Biography: Isaac Shultz Reyes specializes in Mexican dance, art, history and culture. A native of Mexico City, he performed as soloist in the Deer Dance with the Ballet Folklorico of Mexico in the Palacio de Bellas Artes. He has received numerous local and international awards including the National Contemporary Dance award in Mexico. Shultz-Reyes has thirty-five years experience as a professional artist and instructor in Mexico and the United States. He has worked as an Artist-in-Residence in Washington and Oregon since 1989, teaching the folk art and culture of his native country. In addition, Shultz Reyes serves as artistic director and performer of the ensemble "Ballet Folklorico Ollin" which performs throughout the Northwest through Young Audiences of Oregon, Northwest Folklife in the Schools and formerly with the Washington State Arts Commission's Cultural Enrichment Program.
When asked about his approach as a Teaching Artist, Mr. Shultz Reyes wrote this: “As a teaching artist, my work involves offering students a wide variety of creative experiences in the visual/folk arts, dance and music. Students work with a variety of Mexican arts, including making piñatas, papier-mâché masks, paper flowers, decorative paper banners and Mexican folk dances. I also incorporate information about the art and culture of Mexico. Dance and the arts become a vehicle for teaching culture, history and other subjects. I hope to enhance the students’ respect for cultural differences and increase their knowledge of the Mexican culture’s contribution to America’s art and culture. I pursue teaching with the same passion that I pursue my personal involvement with dance and the arts. Consequently, I am able to create the same excitement and enthusiasm in my students. As a teacher, I am approachable, flexible and I have a sense of humor. I enjoy working with young people and feel that I can adapt my curriculum to the needs of individuals.”
Suitable for Grades: K-12 Curriculum Integration Possibilities: History, Social Studies
Additional Interests/Experience:
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