Patric Cashman’s method of teaching aims to attain qualitative results rather than quantitative ones. Quality rather than quantity with a goal to deepen the students’ awareness of their inherent potential and ability. With time, students begin to realize that all movement has potential and can be incorporated, they become more confident to trust their own movement impulses and, consequently, contribute them to the class. As a teacher Mr. Cashman believes that every student has the potential to create and express, sometimes they just need guidance to allow it to blossom.

Mr. Cashman teaches urban/contemporary dance, along with a hybrid of hip-hop street-styled dance techniques. Using music/audio soundscapes for inspiration, I expand student engagement using a variety of methodologies, games, and exercises from Contemporary/Modern dance techniques (e.g use of breath to assist fall and recovery based on Martha Graham’s work). I find this widens students’ exposure to different dance forms, while not limiting them to any particular style, and allowing each student to find their own place of connection to movement within a wider spectrum of dance making possibilities. Dance allows me to learn more about myself in ways other methods don’t and hope that students will discover something new about themselves and their potential through this guided process.