Michelle Perdue is a dynamic and transformative educator, performer and change agent. As a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a master’s degree in education, a graduate of the Ruskin School of Acting, former VocalEssence Teaching Artist, and military veteran, Michelle has had the privilege of working with some of the most culturally and intellectually diverse students. However, it’s not by accident that Michelle has devoted so much of her life to inspiring and educating others.
As a student who struggled in school due to a lack of support and unrealized potential, Michelle developed a mindset that often undermined her ability to operate from a place of possibility and abundance. It wasn’t until Michelle was exposed to people who affirmed her aspirations, used language that optimized her humanity and demonstrated their power with assertiveness, that she began to understand the meaning of self-love and self-expression.
Michelle believes that by embracing your creative voice to express yourself in the most authentic and courageous way, you enable yourself to communicate your thoughts and ideas with confidence and authority. This is what Michelle wants for her students. Therefore, it’s for this reason why Michelle has been able to show up for others with compassion and understanding. Whether teaching in the LA Unified School District, the Minneapolis Public School District, or delivering Keynote presentations to corporate employees (Johnson & Johnson, Way To Grow, Land O’ Lakes, and more!) Michelle is committed to investing in the hearts and minds of others seeking to aspire to their potential.
More on the artist
Michelle Perdue is an award-winning actress with over 20-years of acting experience. As a graduate of the Ruskin School of acting and a member of the Screen Actors Guild, Michelle learned early in her acting career the importance of performing authentically in imaginary circumstances.
Michelle’s ability to continuously invest in her craft has positioned her as a sought-after actress who embraces each role with humility, compassion, and a sense of deep understanding. By seeing each role as an opportunity to stretch beyond her comfort zone, it has enabled Michelle to excel at times beyond her own expectations.
Whether Michelle is being nominated for Best Actress or Supporting Actress in films such as, “The Part We Keep, Don’t Wait or for creating her own stage plays, such as, “Elma Gene’s Journey to Freedom, The Housekeeper’s Dirt or Thrive, which she was awarded a Minnesota State Arts Grant, she has proven that with hard work and a commitment to her passion, anything is possible.
When Michelle is not acting, she enjoys keynote speaking, creative writing and performing spoken word poetry. A sample of Michelle’s poetry is included in her recent book titled, “Rise and Shine! How to Live a Life of Resilience and Perform at Your Potential. It is her hope that when she shines her work will inspire others to shine even brighter.
Program Offerings
Workshops
Rise and Shine! How to Tell Stories that Captivate the Heart and Soul
Storytelling is an ancient art form and communication tool that has captivated the hearts and souls of audiences since the beginning of time. It has served as a vital source for historical preservation, personal development and lively entertainment to cultivate a sense of community and belonging. It’s for this reason, it begs the question, who doesn’t want to hear a good story?
The truth of the matter is, as human beings, we are all wired to hear and tell stories. Stories allow us to use our imagination while transporting us into a time and place of wonder and curiosity. It facilitates understanding and makes meaning out of complex facts and data. It creates human connection between the audience and storyteller. It makes your message memorable causing your audience to experience a higher level of retainability.
What makes this workshop even more appealing is Michelle’s energetic and creative style. You not only get to tell your own stories, but Michelle will demonstrate how you can show your story so that your audience feel as if they are on the journey with you. So come along and enjoy the ride in this fun and exciting workshop.
During this Rise and Shine with Sensational Storytelling workshop students will:
• Learn the Hero’s Journey storytelling structure to create a cohesive and structurally sound story
• Have an opportunity to play improvisational games to strengthen storytelling skills
• Identify effective and non-effective storytelling
• Tell their own stories using vivid imagery
This workshop will be tailored to the ages and developmental stages of audience members. For instance, Michelle will use examples and writing prompts based on her audience.
Residencies
The Artistic Expression of Spoken Word
The Artistic Expression of Spoken Word with Michelle Perdue provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the history, art form and the necessary creative elements to writing and performing spoken word.
This residency is structured in a way that will allow students to utilize their creative thinking skills to form cohesive and vibrant language that will represent their truest thoughts and perspectives. Students will have an opportunity to:
• Work in a fun and nurturing environment to encourage self-expression
• Embrace their creative voice in a way that will allow them to communicate in a very authentic and transparent way
• Nurture their emotional intelligence by gaining a deeper understanding of how their emotions can constructively influence their performance
• Gain the confidence needed to speak with vocal variety to engage their audience
• Identify topics that speaks to their mind, heart and soul causing them to not only be heard, but more importantly seen
• Perform their spoken word in a way that shines a light on their individuality and unique voice
This residency can be taught to various ages and groups. Whether it’s middle or high school students, organizations or at community events, the curriculum can be modified to accommodate the learning styles and cognitive abilities for each of them.
Rise and Shine! How to Write a Memorable Memoir for the Heart and Soul
This Rise and Shine Memoir Residency gives students the tools and resources to share one’s life story with clarity and confidence. It provides inspiration to engage in self-reflection while strengthening creative writing skills to produce writing one can be proud of.
Let’s face it, writing a memoir can be challenging even in the best of circumstances when revisiting past experiences that bring up sentimental or evocative memories. However, in this supportive environment, students will have the benefit of creating a personal gem that will not only be emotionally gratifying but will have the potential to leave heartfelt memories for a lifetime and beyond.
Students will engage in various skill building opportunities, which include:
• How to structure a memoir to achieve the highest level of engagement
• How to utilize descriptive and sensory language to bring your story to life
• Analyze excerpts from published writers to enrich learning and engagement
• How to research and soul search to attain the necessary information needed to complete your memoir
• How to handle emotional distress when writing to remain productive and passionate to achieve your end goal.
Please note, this Rise and Shine Memoir Residency can be tailored to meet the needs of various audiences.
This residency will be customized based on the ages and developmental stages of the audience members. Customization may include personal examples and writing prompts.
The duration for this residency is a minimum of one week or 5 sessions. Possible supplies include journals and Michelle’s book “Rise and Shine! How to Live a Life of Resilience and Perform at Your Potential” can be purchased to compliment this residency.
Performance and Professional Development
Sensational Spoken Word with Michelle Perdue
Michelle Perdue has the innate ability to captivate an audience with her original, thought-provoking, and emotionally charged spoken word poetry. With her 20+ years of writing and performing spoken word, Michelle has mastered the art of self-expression, creative writing and human connection to facilitate a dynamic and robust experience for her audience.
When Michelle takes the stage she confidently and enthusiastically owns the room by performing spoken word that reflect her truth and humanity. It’s for this reason and more, why her audience experiences spoken word in such a profound and transformative way. They will have an opportunity to emotionally sync to the rhythm of Michelle’s words, become immersed in her powerful storytelling as it unfolds in real time creating human connecting, and to expand their mind by promoting empathy and cognitive flexibility.
Although Michelle’s performances can be tailored to various audiences whether students, community members or employees, there are key outcomes within her spoken word poetry that transcend throughout her work. These are outcomes that could change the trajectory of lives which include, but are not limited to:
• Inspiring students to use their voice in a creative and constructive way
• Empowering students to find meaning in their values and beliefs despite them not being popular amongst their peers
• Inspiring students to share personal and/or socially relevant issues that cultivate healthy and sustainable classrooms and communities
Teaching Artist Statement
My teaching style puts the students in the driver’s seat by giving them the opportunity to take ownership of their education. Consequently, they are given a safe and nurturing platform to engage in self-discovery and character-building opportunities.
I believe that every student, regardless of their ethnicity or religious affiliation, deserves to be heard, but also, they deserve the best of me which means the more I speak the less they learn. I encourage them to question my philosophy, question the status quo, and challenge their beliefs and understanding. This way, they become active learners rather than passive learners.
I don’t assume that students always know the answer, yet I encourage them to be problem solvers, deep thinkers by engaging in peer-to-peer conversations, allowing them to formulate their own thoughts and ideas to validate their voice and humanity. I believe it’s important for students to hear their own voices for them to realize the power it has and the impact it can have on others. I want them to know that their voice matters! As a Teaching Artist, I believe in the importance of engaging students with intention and consistency. I believe that if students aren’t engaged, they aren’t learning. Therefore, I want to create space for psychological safety, interpersonal communication and self-advocacy by way of empowering students to transcend beyond their fears and insecurities to rise and shine.
“Michelle was energetic, uplifting and provided a lot of useful food for thought for those in attendance. Her high-energy and positive message was a highlight of the evening, and she connected well with both the students and parents in the room. I was especially appreciative of Michelle agreeing to do the event at the last minute; I was thoroughly impressed with what she was able to do with so little time.”
Tracey Williams-Dillard, MSR CEO
“At a recent Minnesota Women in City Government luncheon in St. Paul, MN, Michelle highlighted three key steps to help us develop to our full potential. Her message and her poetry resonated with everyone attending.”
Carol A. Mueller, Mounds View Mayor
