From Stage lights to classroom brights

By Claire Chao

When you think of professional ballet, do you think of teaching high school sciences?

If you’re like me, chances are, you don’t.

 And it wasn’t at all the first thought of Mr. Steven Salazar’s either, although that was the course that he took. Mr. Steven was trained in dance for years until it came to a sudden stop due to COVID-19. Faced with an unexpected void in his life, he sought to spend his time in ways other than ballet.

Mr. Steven dedicated himself to the art of dance, training intensively and performing at various local events. As an after-school dance instructor, he was grateful to share his visible passion with his students. He achieved success by cultivating emerging talent and educating them about the beauty of dance.

However, as the world changed dramatically in 2020, so did Mr. Steven’s career. The pandemic brought a stop to in-person gatherings, putting his dance and instructional career to a pause. He lost his job due to these circumstances.

Mr. Steven- “When 2020 hit, with the whole pandemic, it just kinda like fell down. And when I lost my job, I was like okay I need to do something with my time, so I went back into college to get my credentials.”

But rather than sulking around and pitying himself, Mr. Steven challenged himself to a big change. Thinking back to when he was instructing dance after school and his colleagues recognized his natural ability to talk to people, he set a goal for himself.

Mr. Steven was not sure about teaching, as it never really appealed to him. His heart was set on dance, and teaching anything else never crossed his mind.

Nevertheless, he began getting his credentials to teach sciences and got them promptly. The goal Mr. Steven set for himself was to start teaching before the age of 30, and he succeeded with ease, beginning his teaching career at the age 

He often asked, could he bring the same creativity and enthusiasm to science as he had with dance?

Mr. Steven- “At the end of the day, its my job to like provide a safe space for students. Because like I said earlier, if the students don’t learn anything as far as the subject wise, but they come into class and they learn a very big life skill of how to do their work or at least how to prioritize things, then maybe I did something for these kids.”

His classroom became a haven where students felt valued and heard. Mr. Steven made it his mission to foster curiosity, urging students to ask questions and think critically. He knew that science could be daunting, much like learning a new dance routine, but he aimed to break it down into manageable, enjoyable steps. He made his students comfortable and made sure to offer solutions to every problem.

Though his path had taken an unexpected turn, Mr. Steven Salazar discovered that his journey was far from over. 

In teaching high school sciences, he found a new stage, a different audience, and an opportunity to make a lasting impact. Standing before his students, he realized that while his ballet shoes may have been set aside, his passion for teaching and inspiring others was just beginning to dance.