The Reflexive Teaching Artist

Book excerpt: Writing from the dual perspectives of artist and educator, The Reflexive Teaching Artist raises fundamental questions about the complex functions of the teaching artist and the possibility of artistry in teaching. Encompassing the collective wisdom of 24 teaching artist professionals working in diverse settings and with a wide range of participants, this seminal text explores a series of foundational concepts, including Intentionality, Quality, Artistic Perspective, Assessment and Praxis, which are used as a reflective framework and illuminated by case studies from a wide range of teaching-artist practice. Readers are also offered questions to guide their practical application, charts to complete, and a research process to follow. The editors, both key practitioners in their field, also offer their own reflection in order to closely examine the practice of teaching in and through drama/theatre. The book is brimming with invitations to apply new concepts to practice, and guidance for extending practice into new areas. It is a call to drama/theatre teaching artists to consider the power of reflexive practice.