​​Belinda Aimé Sáenz, MA, MEd, BFA

Belinda A. Sáenz  is a multidisciplinary performer, choreographer, and instructional specialist who collaborates as a teaching artist (TA) with Lincoln Center Education since 2014. Through the various programs at Lincoln Center Education, Belinda has partnered with fellow TAs, artists, teachers, and college professors in the development of Aesthetic Education workshops through LCE’s unique Learning Framework, the Capacities for Imaginative Thinking. She co-presented at the LCE Summer Forums yearly since 2015 and serves a the United Federation of Teachers Chapter Leader for the LCE Faculty since January 2017.

 

Belinda is thrilled to be part of the Disney Theatrical Group as a TA within Disney Theatrical Productions / Disney on Broadway programming. In her role, Belinda immerses herself in the world of the Disney musicals to facilitate musical theater workshops, classes, talkbacks, and assemblies. Other collaborations as a TA include New York City Center and TADA! Youth Theatre as a Director/Choreographer. 

 

Ms. Sáenz was a repertory company member with Canady Foundation for the Arts Repertory Theatre, a resident theatre company that embodies culture, spirit and storytelling. Rooted in community and social justice, CFA Repertory Theatre comprises some of the best young theatre talent in the country who specialize in performing theatre of the African Diaspora and theatre for Young Audiences.

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Some of her past performances have been with Bessie-Award-Winning Joya Powell’s Movement of the People Dance Company, "a Dance Theater company (that) blends dynamic Contemporary Dance with traditional world folk dances, and develops a sensitive balance of pedestrian gestural phrases with grounded visceral movements that use breath and musicality at its core." Also, in theatrical creations/puppetry with Callaloo Kids, a children’s media brand that promotes cultural understanding and social awareness education for children through books, animation, live performance, and more.

 

Belinda has performed at Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, The Kennedy Center, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2016 for the Inside/Out Series, Davis Hall, United Palace Theatre, Queens Theatre, Frederick Loewe Theatre, etc. Belinda has collaborated with MJM Dance, Dance the YARD in Martha’s Vineyard, Theatre Arts Center/NY, El Paso Opera, Viva El Paso, UTEP Music Theatre Company, UTEP Theatre and Dance, UTEP Dinner Theatre, among others. She has performed choreography by Martie Barylick, Jennifer Conley, Sean Curran, Deborah Damast, Diane Duggan, Kim Elliott, Rocker Verastique, among many others. Her most recent choreographic work titled The US in USA was presented at the Frederick Loewe Theatre for the NYU Dance Education’s Distinguished Faculty Concert 2017. 

 

Besides the USA, she has studied, taught, and/or performed in Mexico, England, Eastern and Central Europe. She has a broad range of performance experience dancing, singing and acting; 20 Years of private teaching experience; and 7 Years in the public education sector. She has taught children, teenagers, and adults a wide variety of dance styles and levels including: Mexican Folkloric Dances, Jazz, Modern, Dance for the Musical Theatre, Intercultural dances (Flamenco, Middle Eastern, Afro Caribbean, West/East African, Latin Rhythms), Tap, Hip Hop, etc.

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Some of the highlights of her triple threat performance experience while in El Paso have been as an opening soloist performer for Pop-Star Shakira's Concert “Tour of the Mongoose” in Texas and New Mexico in 2003; participating in the opening acts for Pedro Fernandez, Pepe Aguilar, and Vikki Carr at Las Cruces International Mariachi Conference; appearing as Minnie in the El Paso Opera's production of West Side Story; as Rumpleteazer in "Cats" and at the UTEP Dinner Theatre 25th Anniversary Concert Celebrating the works of Sir Tim Rice. In such magnificent event, she had the honor to perform with Broadway, recording and film stars such as Deborah Gibson, Ron Bohmer, Hugh Panaro, and Annie Golden.

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From the El Paso- Juarez border area, Belinda is currently a candidate for the Education Doctorate in Leadership and Innovation at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College in Arizona State University.  Her research interest include the potential application or contribution of Aesthetic Education into online dance teaching and learning. She holds a Master of Arts in Dance Education with a specialization in Teaching Dance in Higher Education and the Professions (Institute Honors as recipient of The Western Scholarship), a Master of Education as Instructional Specialist in Bilingual Education & a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Magna Cum Laude) in Music Theatre and Dance Minor from the University of Texas at El Paso.

 

She is a proud DEAR Program Fellow of The Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute. Other affiliations include the UNESCO International Dance Council, American Guild of Musical Artists, National Dance Education Organization, and New York State Dance Education Association.

At NYU Steinhardt's Dance Education program, Belinda served as adjunct professor (Intercultural Dance, Common Hour Course-Fieldwork Practice and Tap) while collaborating as assistant director of the Kaleidoscope Dancers resident company for three consecutive years. Also, she served as Teaching Assistant for Tap Dance, Administration Assistant, NDEO- NYU Student Chapter Co-chair, and faculty for the Summer Dance Intensive 2014.  

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Belinda was member of the International Honor Society, Professional Association in Education, Texas State Teachers Association, National Education Association, Texas Dance Educators Association (TDEA), Association of Texas Professional Educators, Golden Key Honour Society, etc. Belinda served the Instituto de Investigación y Difusión de la Danza Mexicana, A.C. for over a decade through the Chihuahua State Delegation and developed intensive summer field studies and performances in various cities and municipalities in Chihuahua, Michoacán, Aguascalientes, Campeche, Querétaro, Baja California, and Guanajuato, México.