Inspirations

Conny and Marianne Taylor

Andy began dancing with her parents, Conny and Marianne Taylor, when she was just a baby.

Andy says, "My parents were an amazing teaching team. They complemented each other. They both believed that dance was not only good for humans as physical exercise but also the glue to hold a community together. They believed in dance as a vehicle of understanding, of acceptance, of one people to another. My parents believed that everybody had a space on the floor."

Andor Czampo

"Andor was the first person I had learned from who taught dances of their own country. He was a man who danced the dances from the perspective of a native growing up. He saw his native culture in full bloom and watched it taken apart by war and occupational forces. His deep knowledge of the regional dances, cycles within those regions, and styles for men and women is what made him a rich teacher. His ability to overcome language difficulties and become a well-known college teacher is inspirational."

Nelda Drury

Nelda Drury studied folklorico dance, and through her position as physical education teacher at San Antonio Junior College was able to run a dance group that toured Europe and performed for Ladybird Johnson. She used dance as an educational and unifying tool. She started the San Antonio Folk Dance Festival and at 99 continues to enjoy the festival and its participants. She still inspires performers , teachers and students alike.

Jazz Pedagogy

Lynn Simonson

Andy is an adoring admirer of Lynn Simonson. She attended Lynn's teacher training course at Windhover and has incorporated many of Lynn's methodologies into her teaching.

"I met Lynn Simonson in 1982. She teaches dance to your body and brings out the best in you, as a dancer and as a teacher. Her knowledge of the human form and her in-depth knowledge of jazz music bring you to a technical understanding in the dance, and her use of music and movement bring you to an emotional depth in your own work."