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Dance Education Blog

NDEO's "Dance Education" Blog features articles written by NDEO members about dance and dance education topics as well as periodic updates on NDEO programs and services. This is a FREE resource available to ALL.

Archive by category: College & University Dance EducationReturn
By Madison E. Lence, Dance Choreographer and Educator ~~ Dance is a versatile discipline that requires a plethora of schooled skill for an individual to be successful in their field of dance. One such area of dance that necessitates a keen knowledge is the understanding of music. Music is coupled with the practice of dance, yet many people disregard its significance to the education of a dance student. Far too often I have found myself in a class or rehearsal where the instructions being given c...
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By Dr. Christi Camper Moore, Associate Professor of Dance and Head of Arts Administration, & Olivia Lybarger, Student, Ohio University ~~ his blog reviews a semester-long choreographic investigation, developed and guided by movement research that focused on ecological balance, the human relationship with consumption, and the earth and its ecosystems. Olivia is an Environmental Studies major and Dance minor, and Christi is an Associate Professor of Dance. The authors were curious about an interdi...
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At NDEO, we are committed to offering programs and services that help dance educators foster student development through dance education. Student development is the process of how students grow and develop their skills, both inside and outside of the classroom - or in our case, the dance studio! When considering student development, their academic, social, emotional, and physical growth and well-being are taken into account. As dance educators, we know that dance has a positive impact on student...
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By Zachary Keita, NAfME Advocacy and Public Policy Communications Manager ~~ On February 12, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a confirmation hearing of President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon. During the hearing, McMahon responded to inquiries regarding her experience and knowledge on programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and outlined her vision for ED if she were to be confirmed by the full Senate ...
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By Shannon Dooling-Cain, NDEO Special Projects ~~ In 2025, we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, the premiere honor society for dance in the United States. NHSDA was established by the National Dance Education Organization in 2005 to recognize outstanding artistic merit, leadership, and academic achievement in students studying dance...
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By Patch Schwadron, Independent Career Consultant ~~ Beyond learning technique, dancers need to develop and practice strategies for managing their mental and physical health, finances, and career options. As with all their acquiring of life skills, dancers in training can benefit from practical support provided by knowledgeable adults around them. At the Fund, I responded to a request from a dance professor at Florida State University to talk to students about how to use their college years to p...
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by Yoav Kaddar, NDEO President ~~ The past few years have been tumultuous for dance in higher education. After an impressive shift to new models of teaching and learning dance during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, many schools now face struggles with decreased enrollment, budget cuts, and shifting institutional priorities impacting dance programs nationwide. These trends within higher education and elsewhere within our field have been happening for a while, notably with Mills College (2021...
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by Gina D'Antonio-Spears, Dance Educator, Portage Park Elementary, Chicago Public Schools ~~ When I first began teaching in Chicago Public Schools, dance positions were few and far between. One day, I was at a conference and I met this amazing elementary dance teacher. I latched onto her like a lost puppy, asked if we could have lunch together, and *boom* I had a mentor. Suddenly I was not alone in my work, no longer teaching dance in a bubble. Over the years she advised me and inspired me, ...
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by Betsy Maloney Leaf, PhD, MFA, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota ~~ The following blog was written by NDEO member Betsy Maloney-Leaf. She is proposing a new Special Interest Group for Teacher Trainers in Dance Education, the educators who prepare the next generation of dance teachers. We at NDEO recognize and support the need to bring this group of dance educators together to cultivate support and leadership within our community. This blog sets forth why our community needs this spe...
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By Shannon Dooling-Cain, NDEO Special Projects - Content Writer ~~ Thank A Dance Teacher Day is a global movement to shine the spotlight on dance education and the teachers who make it possible. It was started in 2014 by the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) to raise awareness of the benefits of dance education through social media. Held annually on the first Thursday in May, Thank A Dance Teacher Day is a perfect time to show your gratitude to the dance teachers who made all the diff...
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By Elizabeth McPherson, Professor and Director of the Dance Division, Montclair State University ~~ Historically, US dance has stood in comparison to European dance, often striving to emulate Western European aesthetics. Dance forms seen as lacking in these aesthetics have been deemed less artistic and less refined. While Western European influence on much of US culture including dance remains strong, there are many, many more influences and dance histories that comprise US dance. Perspectives o...
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by Shannon Dooling-Cain, NDEO Special Projects Coordinator, “What is Jazz Dance?” It’s a simple question, but the answers are not as straightforward as they might appear. We can find the answer by not just peeking at current jazz classes in dance studios today, but by also taking a look back through time at the powerful roots and winding branches that have built this unique genre and helped shape American history...
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By Danielle Lydia Sheather, MFA, Assistant Professor of Dance, Southern Utah University ~~ Following the remarks of Kentucky’s Governor Matt Bevin in 2018, "If you're studying interpretive dance, God bless you, but there's not a lot of jobs right now in America looking for people with that as a skill set," I found it urgent to study the relationship between dance, higher education and the stigma that surrounds majoring in the subject...
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By Demi Agaiby, M.S., Dance Psychology Consultant and Director of Beyond Horizons Performance ~~ As dance educators, it seems as though there is constant pressure to create. Whether it's choreographing the group piece for the spring showcase or putting the final touches on a competition solo - we've all been in a situation where we are rushing to beat the clock. Although we might have a plan in place to get those things done, life happens. Perhaps a snowstorm cancels a much-needed rehear...
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by Pascal Rekoert, Assistant Professor and Dance Education Program Director at Central Connecticut State University ~~ After two adventurous years that feel like a century due to COVID-19 pitfalls and pratfalls, I am learning to prioritize self-care. As a perfectionist and chronic overachiever who has had difficulty separating work from family life while working remotely, the importance of to-do's, have-to-do's, and overdue-do's ...
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