Hey! I’m Rachel. A woman with so much love, patience, happiness, and skill to share with everyone, all the time. And that makes me, me.
I began my journey in dance the moment I could walk, and since then, I have never looked back, and I have never imagined myself following any other path. I found that performing invited me into a world where nothing else mattered in that moment. I could express myself without fear and I could tackle anything that stood between myself and personal development. And so, the environment I strive to create is a feeling of ‘home’, to be comfortable and to feel safe and I want everyone to experience that sense of belonging, just like I did, and still do.
Teaching is not a job; it is a way of life for me. To be able to mould and shape students to be the best version of themselves through performance is the most rewarding benefit I could have ever asked for. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how young you are. All you need is a desire to learn, and the rest will fall into place. Martha Graham said that dance is the hidden language of the soul, and so we should remember that we are not great because of our technique, we are great because of our passion to perform.
I grew up with a solid technique provided by Dance Education of South Africa, where I then entered my teachers’ exams, and when the time came, I completed my ‘acting performance and teachers’ qualifications through Trinity College and L.A.M.D.A, here in South Africa, however, based in London.
I don’t believe that my qualifications define me. It might seem ‘out of this world’ to say that, however, I believe my experience and personal touch is what sets me apart and what defines me as a teacher, and I work hard everyday to provide my students with the best version of me.
I am not perfect. We are not perfect. But together, I believe that we can create a sense of perfection.
And so, let us ‘Live, Love, Dance, Act’
xxx
Bio: The word biography is defined as “a written account of another person’s life.” And of course, “bio” is short for the word biography. The root of the word in Greek means life, and in Latin means living. So, you could think of a bio as a chance to share with your future students what in your life has led you to the moment where you will be teaching this topic or class for them. This is my brief bio:
I am Maxine Botha. When I left school, I studied speech and drama at Maas Phillips College of Speech and Drama for four years, and was involved in many aspects of the theatre, including stage management.
My foremost focus was, and still is teaching, and have taught English to foreigners, and a variety of different students over the years. I am deeply passionate about performing arts, as I firmly believe it can help children and adults to feel confident and communicate clearly.
Performing arts also gives us the opportunity to step out of a comfort zone and perform as another character. I enjoy teaching immensely; it is very satisfying watching an actor grow into a role, and then get on out there, be yourself, and be confident in your abilities.
Drama improves verbal and non-verbal skills, and can help develop their communication and presentation skills, which are vital for anyone. I believe that drama can enable students to participate in exploring their worlds. It gives the student the opportunity to explore and the freedom to imagine. It gives students the ability to step into someone else’s shoes for a brief period. Drama is the essence of being.
It is okay to tell people the truth & say: “This is my first time teaching a class like this, and I’m a little nervous.” Then your big secret is out, and you can relax and enjoy the experience. To quote Zig Ziglar, “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
