Media

Throughout the year, we witnessed incredible learning in our studios and classrooms, from quiet breakthroughs to bold transformations as students stepped into their artistry. We celebrated the Imagination and Innovation that grew from our creative work, research, and shared learning. This day-long conference serves as a premier professional development opportunity for North Carolina dance educators from a range of dance teaching and cultural contexts.

The NCDEO Conference 2024, titled "Advocacy In Action: Celebrating the Impact of Dance," was an event that brought dance educators together to explore strategies for advocating dance and dance education. This conference was designed to address the challenges faced by dance educators in a society that may not fully understand the value and significance of dance. The conference focuses on creating excellent curriculums, fostering community and criticality, and building sustainable spaces for dance education. Participants had the opportunity to learn from each other's experiences and celebrate the transformative power of dance. The conference offered opportunities for networking and collaboration among dance educators.

Presenters: Marissa Nesbit and Kelly Scott Dance education conferences offer an exciting opportunity to share your expertise with colleagues, expand the reach of your work, and influence the direction of our field. Join NCDEO board members to learn the ins and outs of developing great conference proposals that lead to effective presentations! This session will share tips for crafting your proposal for the upcoming NCDEO conference as well as general advice for finding and submitting to other dance education conferences.

Presenters: Cheri Crabtree, Betsy Graves, Tabitha Lee To build a successful program, dance educators often need funding beyond what is given directly by their school administration and county. In this session, experienced dance educators share their tips for creating and working with a flourishing parent booster organization to raise funds and offer valuable experiences for dance students. This session will discuss guest artist residencies, fundraising, parent and student leadership teams, grant proposals, and provide a discussion platform for teachers to ask questions and speak about successes and struggles. Topics of discussion include soliciting officer positions, creating and filing organizational documents, and insurance requirements.

Presenter: Dr. Kaustavi Sarkar Grounded in the fundamentals of traditional classical Indian, particularly in Odissi, the movement-based workshop will focus on curvilinearity, spinal twist, groundedness, attention to detail, and facial nuance cultivating presence. The class will begin with a yoga-based warm-up and develop into postural, gestural, and expressive routines culminating in a movement phrase. Students will receive a movement overview of Odissi and a taste of its historical, cultural, and aesthetic nuances. Open to all levels.

What is culturally responsive teaching? How does it apply to dance education? In this session participants will learn about culturally responsive & relevant teaching methodologies within the dance context and how these methodologies can foster positive classroom culture of community & collaboration. Session participants received resources & tips that they can apply both immediately and in the long-term in their own dance settings.

Presenter: Kerrie-Jean King Digital media offers dance teachers and students an exciting array of opportunities to create, share, and respond to artistic work. While students are often consumers of digital content in their daily lives, it is important that teachers facilitate the knowledge and skills needed for them to become active creators and critics of digital media. Join us to learn about the latest apps for the dance classroom, how to integrate them into your lessons, and how to support students in using technology to further their learning.