“To be an educator means to be a part of children's life”

Every success of the Academy is the result of the work of many people who remain behind the scenes but play a key role in creating coziness, comfort and beauty around us. The project “Our People” is stories about those who by their labor make the Academy a place where one wants to be inspired and create.

“To be an educator means to be a part of children's life”

The heroine of the next issue of the project “Our People” is Dastan Nurshat Әbdimomynkyzyzy, a teacher of the boarding school of the Kazakh National Academy of Choreography.

• Please tell us about yourself and how you came to work as a boarding school teacher. I come from the city of Taraz, where I graduated from school and received education as a pedagogue-psychologist. During my student years my supervisor advised me to try myself in a big city. So I moved to Astana, where I learned about the vacancy of a tutor in the boarding school of the Kazakh National Academy of Choreography. The decision was made quickly, and since then I have been working with children with pleasure.

• How long have you been working at the Academy? Since its opening in 2016. Over the years, the Academy has become a second home for me.

• What inspired you to choose this particular profession and work with children seeking creative development? Love for children. There are many teachers in my family - both grandfathers and grandmothers were teachers, so it seems to me that this profession is in my blood. Working with children, I feel that I can help them grow, support them on their way to their dreams and create a comfortable atmosphere for them.

• How does your working day go at the Academy? My work is related to the children's everyday life, as the boarding school is their second home. I control the educational process, meals, help to solve various issues, hold discussions with children and their parents. I also organize activities and leisure time so that they could not only study, but also enjoy the time spent at the Academy.

• What peculiarities of working with children with a passion for choreography would you emphasize? Children, regardless of their future profession, are always special. Each one needs a different approach, it is important to be honest, attentive and caring. Those who choose choreography are especially disciplined, hardworking and emotionally sensitive. They need support and understanding, as their path is not always easy.

• What methods or approaches help you to develop the creative potential of your students? To develop creativity, it is important to create an environment where children feel supported. I try to establish their communication with teachers, choreographers, to help them overcome difficulties. Attention, trust and engagement are the main tools of an educator.

• What inspires you in your work with children? What moments bring you the most satisfaction? I am inspired by their curiosity, activity and eager eyes. The most touching moments are when children want to hug each other, share their experiences and tell me about their day. It is important for me to be a part of their lives. And I am also very proud when I see them on stage - they are taking small but confident steps towards their dreams.

• What are your hobbies? I like to weave bracelets from thread, I collect books and dream of having a big library. In my free time I draw, study English and Japanese to communicate more easily with foreign students.

• Is there something you dream about the most? Like every person, I have my own dreams. First of all, I dream of world peace. But I also want every child to be able to realize themselves, to find their place in life and in the world of art.

• What do you learn from your children? Have you ever had children discover something new for you? Every day I learn something new from my children, just as they learn something new from me. They teach me trust, sincerity and the ability to see more joy in life. Becoming an educator at the Academy has opened up a wonderful world of ballet, art and culture. This world inspires me as much as it does my kindergartners.

The series of interviews is carried out within the framework of the “Year of working professions” announced by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kasym-Jomart Tokayev.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)