Danaya Esperanza
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Introduction: I am a graduate of The Juilliard School, where I studied Drama and where I was also a Writing Tutor. I am also a graduate of Columbia University, where I have also taught Dramatic Scene Study. I have over 5 years of teaching experience and over 10 years of directing and private coaching experience.
What I love is the light in a students eyes, in that moment when information becomes interpretation and the desire to do something with it is born. Those are moments when students find themselves in the work. I feel lucky to be a part of that. And from there, a relationship forms from artist to artist and the work becomes true collaboration.
In middle school, my algebra teacher deducted points on one of my exams because I completed a problem "the long way," even though I came to the correct answer. My mother came to the school, fought for those points, and told me that my way of solving the problem was much more CREATIVE.
That stuck with me and I try to express that to all of my students. I do not teach or coach so that students learn how to regurgitate facts or technique -- although repetition is very useful. I teach to help my students learn how to be creative, under any circumstance.
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Customers rated this pro highly for value, professionalism, and responsiveness.
Exceptional 5.0
6 reviews
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Darnell S.
Feb 11, 2015
I have had the pleasure of working with Danaya several times on vastly different projects. She has a keen eye for storytelling and masterfully incorporates various mediums, making for seamless productions. Danaya's excellent training at Juilliard allows her to work with actors at various skill levels in a way that both makes the actors incredibly comfortable and empowers them. She has a way of pinpointing the root of an actor's problem, and has an amazing way of helping them circumvent it without making them self-conscious in any way. This I feel is her strength as a coach as well: her ability to help an actor improve and maintaining their sense of discovery and truthfulness. All the monologues of mine that she coached made improvements with every session. I could feel how she helped me inhabit them with more of myself, which is the best thing a coach can do for an actor. If you have the chance to work with Danaya, DO IT!
Emily K.
Mar 7, 2015
I was lucky enough to work with Danaya for several months last year when she directed me in a production at The Juilliard School. Danaya has such a desire for actors to do their best work, and can completely relate to their various processes, so walking into a room with her always felt like an extremely safe and welcoming place. She has sense of patience and care while she helps steer actors through material, allowing them make it their own. The thing I valued most about working with Danaya is that she knows how to balance both technical skill and heart when discussing story with actors. She knows that the same thing doesn't work across the board, there are many ways for performers to work through trouble spots, and she has an extremely diverse set of tools for helping you understand text and activate it onstage. She encourages play and truthfulness, allowing the actors to dive into their imaginations and reach bold and personal discoveries. I would absolutely encourage actors to work with Danaya!
Marcus G.
Feb 4, 2015
Danaya and I co-taught on a college prep program tailored for students pursuing careers in the performing arts. Our prompt was to create an original performance piece using 30+ students aged 12-18 and ensure all of the students were featured. Danaya has incredible vision. She was able to command the room, implement her ideas with efficiency and return with a fresh eye and a fine tooth comb as we worked to refine our ideas. Her commitment to this mammoth task was exemplary and she was always prepared to deal with any eventuality with absolute poise and consideration for the young artists at work.
Jasmine B.
Feb 4, 2015
Danaya and I taught middle and high schooler's a fifty minute session on the elements of poetry. We focused on methods of self-expression, the importance of imagery and connecting the art of written word to the theater.
She is an excellent teacher, and really connects with her students. She gives quality one on one time, and instills hope and the importance of good work ethic in all of her pupils, and I am happy to have worked with her.
As a graduate of The Juilliard School, she is well versed and highly trained to accommodate your audition material needs, private coaching, and any advice you may need to further your theatrical education.
Joat m.
Sep 27, 2018
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Hired on Thumbtack
Hired on Thumbtack
Danaya helped me understand beat breakdowns, she is talented and very knowledgeable.
Details: 26 - 44 years old • Beginner • To build confidence • Theater • Film • TV episode • TV commercial • Scene study • Method acting • Cold reading • Classical acting • Improv • Hone diction and enunciation • 1 person • 45 minutes • I do not have a specific date for an audition or performance • The acting instructor travels to me • I travel to the acting instructor
Acting Lessons