intro: lola tarara, ggl

que lo que, glimpsers?

My name is Lola Tarara, I am a teacher at Kenwood Academy High School in Hyde Park, Chicago and I’ll be one of your GGLs on our trip to Constanza. Before we head out, I’d love to tell you a little about myself.

I have been teaching high school dance in Chicago for 9 years and have also taught various dance adjacent topics as an adjunct professor at universities as well. I dance in a few different dance projects/companies throughout the city and beyond and I love learning new styles and genres. I studied dance ed in undergrad at Illinois State, then I earned a Masters in Educational Policy focusing on student protest and equity from University of Illinois, then a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Montclair State University where I studied dance used as a tool supporting incarcerated communities. Outside of teaching and dance, I also volunteer with justice organizations throughout the city. I also really love house plants, learning new languages, and fitness as hobbies.

I have traveled a ton to lots of different places like Brasil, Peru, Mexico, Ireland, Italy, Canada, the DR, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and most recently South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini, where I celebrated my honeymoon with my partner. This will be my 4th time leading a trip with Global Glimpse and my second time leading a trip to the Dominican Republic! I can’t wait to get to know you all more and share this experience together. Its such a joy to be with you when you open your mind and heart to new places, cultures, and people!

-Lola