Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side....

Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. (All UC schools)

I express my creative side through dance. I dance Folklorico and do cheerleading. Both of these activities allow me to create routines, different combinations, different sounds, and makeup looks. As Folklorico dancers, we do traditional dances. Many of our dances are not original; they are passed down through generations. Our dresses are original to an extent; they follow the same design as the dresses from whichever Mexican region they originate. Our own flourishes are added. This includes different styles of buttons, nicer jewelry, and different sewing patterns. However, our choreography is original. Our teacher allows us to give suggestions as to how our choreography should be. As the years have gone by, my choreography skills have improved. I am now able to give my teacher ideas that he takes into consideration. I have also given him suggestions for our dresses and the accessories that go with them. Typically, my help comes in the form of matching colors, choosing patterns, and deciding which flowers to use for headpieces. I have been able to take these skills outside of the studio. I have helped friends choreograph dances for their quinceaneras and teach dances to them. I have also taught and created dances for my own quinceanera. From the dance studio to the field, I have been able to help my cheer friends learn. I have seen many different styles of learning in Folklorico. When I see my cheer friends struggling, I apply these different learning skills to routines we are learning and teach them using different methods. Outside the studio and off the field, I have learned how to do makeup for dance and cheer. Makeup forces creativity because of different methods of application. If you mess up eyeshadow, you are forced to create a solution because of the time crunch you are on due to call time. Makeup also allows for creativity with colors. If a color is too light, you can use darker shades on your face to offset this. Folklorico has taught me creativity and has allowed me to transfer these skills to different areas of my life.