Gabriella Meiterman-Rodriguez, Storyteller

Photo by Alison Harbaugh

GABRIELLA MEITERMAN-RODRIGUEZ, Dance Student, UMD School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies

When I was younger, I had to perform an improvised dance solo and I was really nervous because at that time my confidence level in my own dancing was not where it is now. But my professor believed in me so much that he decided to make a fool of himself with me and improvise with me. My solo turned into a duet and it just became really fun, really free, and that’s how I feel with dance now. He basically pushed me light years ahead of myself at a young age.

It’s one of the best things ever, knowing your teachers believe in you and are willing to put themselves out there with you.

It’s one of the best things ever, knowing your teachers believe in you and are willing to put themselves out there with you, just to make sure you’ll grow and believe in yourself.