National Dance Day 2025 is Saturday, September 20. Discover its history, meaning, and creative ways to celebrate in the classroom or dance studio.
Back to Dance Goals: How Setting Intentions Shapes Your Season
Learn how to set back to dance goals with reflection, planning & focus. Advice from a dancer & educator + a printable planner for success.
What the Kennedy Center Dance Shake-Up Means for the Future of the Arts
The Kennedy Center is facing mounting turbulence. The recent departures of its Director of Dance, Jane Raleigh, and two full-time dance programming staffers mark a critical shift, but dance as an art form isn’t being wiped out. Under newly installed leadership, programming maybe shifting toward a more commercial, So You Think You Can Dance‑style direction. …
Back to Dance Schedule: Embracing the Rhythm of a New Season
There’s something about the back to dance schedule season that always feels like a fresh start. Much like the first day of school, the beginning of a new dance year carries excitement, nervous energy, and endless possibilities. The costumes, competitions, and recitals are still months away, but the foundation is set in these first weeks …
Jacob’s Pillow Cancels 2025 Season Following Fatal Workplace Accident
Becket, Mass. — Jacob’s Pillow, one of the most iconic and historically significant dance centers in the United States, has announced the cancellation of the remainder of its 2025 season following a fatal workplace accident. The decision halts performances at the famed festival’s indoor and outdoor stages, a blow to the international dance community and …
Classroom Set Up for Dance Educators in the Public School System (Elementary School)
When I first stepped into the world of teaching in the school system as a dance educator, I never imagined how much my teaching space or lack of it would impact how I taught, connected with my students, or maintained classroom culture. Over the years, I’ve taught dance from a cart, in multipurpose rooms, and …
How to Use the 5 Elements of Dance to Create Engaging Lesson Plans in the Elementary Classroom
Teaching dance in elementary school can be a joyful, fun, and creative experience, but let’s be real: it can also feel overwhelming without a clear framework. That’s why the 5 Elements of Dance Body, Action, Space, Time, and Energy is such a great tool. They offer structure, flexibility, and a language both you and your …
5 Trailblazing Black Dance Companies (Other Than Alvin Ailey) You Should Know About
When most people think of Black dance in America, the name Alvin Ailey often rises to the top and rightfully so. Ailey’s work created a legacy that brought African American stories to the concert dance stage in a way that hadn’t been done before. His company opened doors. But as a Black dancer and educator …
From Studio to Classroom: How Dance Builds Stronger Learners in Every Subject
When I first started teaching dance, I thought my role would stay within the walls of the studio helping students learn to plié, chasse, and leap with confidence. What I didn’t expect was how often I’d get messages from parents and classroom teachers saying, “She’s focusing better in school,” or “He’s finally remembering how to …
Dancing Through the Divide: What Public School Dance Programs and Private Studios Can Learn From Each Other
I still remember the moment the difference hit me. I had just finished teaching a third-grade dance class at a public elementary school. We were exploring storytelling through movement, and one student who had never taken a dance class before used stomps and claps to show the sound of thunder in her routine. That same …
