Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Tan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sarah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I grew up in Singapore watching a lot of plays and musicals with my family. I always dreamed of being on stage but never thought it was something possible – it felt like something that was more plausible for people living in the West. The first time I performed in a play was in high school when I accidentally got cast in a 30-minute version of “Romero & Juliet”. I had joined the Drama Club with the intention of learning about tech, primarily light and sound design; but the Director had everyone audition for the show and I got cast! It was through this first experience in acting that I learned to get back in touch with my feelings. I had always been a child with big feelings but was taught to keep them in control, but on stage, I could let them out in full force through the character I was playing. I gradually became increasingly confident in my voice – it’s volume, tone, accent, and my body – how it moved and related to other people in the space.
I continued to be involved in theatre at Carleton College where I attained by Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts, and a concentration in Educational Studies. During that time, I interned with the Education Department at the Guthrie in Minneapolis. It was here that I got to meet professional freelancers in the field who worked as teaching artists and creatives in theatre. This felt like the dream!
Ever since that internship, I have continued to pursue more training and a career in Arts Education for young people. A core value that keeps me going is the desire to bring to young people the same (or better) growth in social and emotional skills that experienced as an actor in high school. I’ve often wondered how I would be different if I had experienced performance earlier in my life, and hope to improve a young person’s quality of life through my teaching and work in arts education.
Sarah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am currently an Arkansas-based performing arts educator and facilitator. Born and raised in Singapore, I moved to North America in 2012 to attend Carleton College where I graduated with a B.A. in Theater Arts with a concentration in Educational Studies. In May 2020, I attained my second degree – an M.F.A. in Theatre for Youth and Community from Arizona State University. In the education realm, I have also received training in arts integration and trauma support for non-clinical individuals.
As an artist, I have been a performer and director in a plethora of theatre and dance productions. In undergrad, I was not only actively involved in the Theatre Department but also a company member with Semaphore – Carleton College’s pre-professional modern dance company. In the years after, I continued to work as a physical performer, merging movement and theatre in my work. I was Pinnochio-chan in GreenT Productions’s rendition of “Pinnochio-Chan” – a Theatre for Youth performance that used Kabuki styles. While in Arizona, I got more involved in devised theatre with Grey Box Collective and numerous projects at Arizona State University where I worked with various ensembles to produce dance-theatre productions. These devised performances ranged from a family-friendly production of the story of “Persephone”, to a historical theatrical performance of World War II war brides, and post-dramatic peroformances on rape culture, and other difficult topics. Most recently, I was a director for the Collab24 Festival – a 24 hour virtual devised festival – where I worked with three complete strangers to produce a film about the battle with our inner thoughts.
As an educator and facilitator, I have worked with age groups ranging from five to 61. These classes have included performance skills for stage and personal development, theory for film and theatre, and critical analysis of artistic works. In the height of Covid-19, I continued to facilitate numerous virtual workshops and classes for middle schoolers and adults virtually. Currently, I am the Learning Programs Manager at TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In this role, I have stepped into a more administrative role where I get to work with a team to launch theatre education programming for both young people and adults state-wide. My extensive work in the arts has brought me through companies such as Grey Box Collective, ACT3 International Singapore, Young Artists of America at Strathmore, Pangea World Theatre, and Wonderlust Productions – with whom I currently serve as a board member.
In all the spaces I facilitate, I am driven by the deep belief that when conducted well, a performing arts class can enhance an individual’s quality of life and interpersonal relationships. All my work strives to be as inclusive as possible, embedding in curriculum and methodology the importance of acknowledging students’ and teachers’ social and emotional well being, implementing trauma-informed creative practices, and including diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
One thing that I have encountered with others who enjoy the arts, but perceive themselves as consumers rather than creatives, is the difficulty in understanding the choice to “give up financial stability” for a “hobby”. In my journey as an artist educator, I have often spoken with well-meaning individuals about why I continue to pursue a career in the Arts despite its lower pay and overall security. What I often point back toward is that I know myself, and I know that my emotional and mental wellbeing is crucial to my quality of life, and part of that journey in keeping a balanced life is spending my time doing work that enriches me in all ways. Too many times have I heard close friends bemoan the stresses and monotony in their work. I have made the choice to not become that person. Engaging in the arts on a daily basis keeps me feeling fulfilled and joyful, and if I can make for myself spaces of joy and get paid for it, then I am going to do it!
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I think the hardest lesson I have had to unlearn is that I can change anyone’s mind with kindness. I have always been an individual with strong opinions and feelings. I’ve learned to channel those strong opinions into healthy conversations with the right people about how structural change to organizational practices (great or small) can make a big impact. On a personal level, I don’t believe in overt aggression or public shaming. That is not my style. I often lean in the direction of grounded but calm reasoning when I engage in a tense situation. However, there was one moment where I was pulled into a conflict with someone who firmly believed that the production I was a performer in needed to be cancelled. I met with this individual on a weekly basis to talk about what I could do to help. I had assumed that my numerous meetings and open listening to her grievances would lead the both of us to a compromise. Alas, it did not. It ended with me being publicly called out. It was in this moment that I realized that regardless of the amount of compassion and openness I bring to the table, I do not always have the ability to connect with someone. Compromise and effective communication is a two-way street and may take more time than allowed in that moment. For anyone in a similar situation, I would encourage bringing in a neutral third party to help mediate emotions and tensions in the space. Looking back on it now, that is something I would have done to help.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sarahtanhy.com
- Instagram: sarah.art.ed
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-tan9/
Image Credits
Lara Jo Hightower Chris Weise Sarah Tan Dog Ear Productions