43: People First; Dance Second — Diane Rawlinson

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Diane Rawlinson —</span> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">a dance educator, nonprofit founder, director, yoga teacher, published author, consultant, and Interplay Leader — whose influential role in the lives of students has earned her top recognition across multiple states. Rawlinson has been investing in the lives of Wheeling High School students for going on three decades, and her investment in the arts has garnered her a slew of awards, including a Ruth Page Award. Additionally, Diane is also a published writer, having written over 100 articles for Dance Spirit and Dance Teacher Magazine, and is the founder of Dance for Life’s Next Generation, which encourages young dancers to give back to the community in a myriad of ways.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To Diane, what happens off of the stage supersedes what happens on the stage, and Diane’s desire is to invest in her students’ lives at a personal level, beyond teaching them the right dance technique or choreography. Rawlinson’s love for her students and for people, in general, is the foundation for so much of what she does as a teacher, nonprofit founder, and her other roles in furthering people and the arts. On the podcast, Diane discusses her love of dance, what it’s like working in the same place for thirty years, how and why Dance for Life Next Generation was founded, and so much more.</span></p> <p><br /> <br /></p> <p><strong>Moving Quotes:</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“While I loved working with dance companies, for me, it was always about making dance accessible to all."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“As a dancer, you have to be coachable. You have to get off of your ego."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“As much as I loved getting on stage and performing, for me, showing people they were capable of doing it too was a bigger thrill."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If a mentor is taking tim