Oregon Dance Education Organization

Right around the corner!

National Dance Education Conference - Register Now **Registration Deadline: September 30**

Did you know that today is the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act?

The National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) is consistently working to apply feedback and make our programs and services more accessible to individuals with disabilities, and we hope our members are working to do the same!

As you work to transform your dance programs into inclusive spaces of , we have resources to support you!

➤ FREE Webinars:
Our Dance and Disability webinar collection by the NDEO Dance & Disability Task Force is available on demand and FREE to both members and non-members. You can access the full collection at ndeo.org/Learn/Webinars/Watch-On-Demand/NDEO-Webinar-Series-Dance-and-Disability

➤ Dance & Disability Forum:
Our Dance & Disability online forum is a FREE space for NDEO members to ask questions, share knowledge, inspire other dancers and dance educators, exchange ideas and teaching methods regarding dance students who have a documented physical, mental, or learning disability. You can access the forum through your NDEO member account at ndeo.org/Connect/Online-Forums

➤ Online Course - Teaching Dance to Students with Disabilities:
For those looking for more in-depth learning on how to create accessible dance classes, our online professional development course "OPDI-114: Teaching Dance to Students with Disabilities" is currently open for registration! You can learn more about the course and register now at ndeo.org/opdi-114

Next Week!

NDEO Virtual PD Day for Dance Teachers REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

TODAY is the last day to apply for a 2022 National Dance Education Award!

Pictured here are last year's award winners:

➤ Darwin Prioleau - Lifetime Achievement Award

➤ Donna Krasnow - Lifetime Achievement Award

➤ Nyama McCarthy-Brown - Outstanding Dance Educator (Higher Education)

➤ Jenefer Davies - Outstanding Dance Education Researcher

➤ Kim Stroud - Outstanding Leadership

➤ Melanie George - Outstanding Leadership

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Learn more about this year's award opportunities and submit your application at ndeo.org/awards

Announcing the 2022 Dance Education Awards!

Do you or someone you know deserve to be recognized nationally for contributions to the field of Dance Education?

Apply for an Award Today!

New this year…. NDEO Members and Non-Members are Eligible to Apply for an Award, and the number of available awards has increased!

The National Dance Education Organization recognizes the achievements of outstanding dance educators through the annual awards program. The major awards available in 2022 are:

➤ Two Outstanding Dance Educator Awards (Independent Sector-formerly Private Sector)
➤ Four Outstanding Leadership Awards: There are four categories of Leadership Awards this year in the following areas: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Higher Education, K-12, and Independent Sector
➤ One Outstanding Dance Education Researcher
➤ Two Lifetime Achievement Awards: One for a Living Artist/Educator & One Posthumous Award.

Application Deadline: May 31

Learn more about each award and submit your application at ndeo.org/awards

Save the date!

SAVE THE DATE! ⁠
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May 5, 2022 is 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. A quality dance education can have a life-changing impact on students, providing physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and psychological benefits.
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NDEO invites dance enthusiasts of all kinds (dancers, former dancers, current students, teachers, dance dads & moms, fans, etc.) to participate in Thank a Dance Teacher Day by sharing your story of how a dance teacher has impacted your life on social media on Thursday, May 5 using the hashtag ⁠
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Learn more: ndeo.org/TADT

Oregon Dance Education Organization (ODEO) is proud to present Debunking Nutrition Myths a professional development workshop for dance educators and the dance community. Join Ali Parkerson, MS NTP from Parkside Nutrition, as she debunks common nutrition and exercise myths that we hear in the dance community.
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All sessions will be online via Zoom - a meeting link will be provided in the registration confirmation email. These sessions are not recorded.
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Visit oregondeo.org to register!
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NDEO is pleased to offer Professional Development Scholarships to recognize excellence in the field of dance education and help educators achieve their career goals through professional development.

Deadline to Submit an Application is Saturday, April 30, 2022

IT'S SCHOLARSHIP SEASON! ⁠🎉
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The National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) is committed to assisting dance teachers in their professional development and career goals by offering scholarships for applicants who display financial need. ⁠
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NDEO is excited to support TWENTY-EIGHT (28) dance educators with professional development scholarships in 2022!⁠

NDEO acknowledges the generous support of Jody and John Arnhold and the Arnhold Foundation. Their visionary support has made this scholarship fund possible!
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Dance educators working in ALL settings (K-12 schools, private studios of dance, higher education, performing arts organizations, etc.) are encouraged to apply for a scholarship. ⁠
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The deadline to apply for a professional development scholarship is April 30, 2022.
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Learn more and apply now at ndeo.org/Membership/Scholarships/Professional-Development-Scholarships, or tag a dance teacher friend below who could use a scholarship this year!

Become a National Dance Teacher Leader!

We are currently recruiting for a passionate and diverse group of educators to create a national Professional Learning Community (PLC) of Teacher Leaders who will receive specialized virtual training to build their capacity to address diversity, equity, inclusion, and social-emotional learning within dance instruction.

We view these content areas as the most pressing for dance educators at this moment in time and believe that we can positively impact students by creating opportunities for dance educators to learn from and with each other.

Following training, each Teacher Leader will facilitate their own virtual PLC of dance educators of their same student grade levels in these same content areas, while also emphasizing the importance of leadership skills.

Selected Dance Teacher Leaders will be eligible for a stipend of up to $8000.

Learn more about this multi-year project and apply today: ndeo.org/Get-Involved/Apply-for-the-CAN-Teacher-Leader-Project

This Documentary Will Make You Fall in Love With Jazz Dance All Over Again Even dancers who love their isolations and hip rolls might be totally unaware of where jazz dance comes from. Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance, which pr

Studies have proven that giving makes you happier! 💕 is a global day dedicated to giving back, where families, businesses, and communities around the world come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and give. To learn more about Odeo’s mission please visit our website. Donations can be made on our website anytime at oregondeo.org

Whether making someone smile, helping a neighbor out, or showing up for an issue you care about, join us on November 30, 2021. Give to your local nonprofit, volunteer, or do an act of kindness.
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Oregon Dance Education Organization (ODEO), a state affiliate of the National Dance Education Organization, serves as a vital voice and as a convening body for dance educators, and the dance community who live, learn, and/or work throughout the state of Oregon. ODEO creates opportunities for professional development, collaboration, sharing of knowledge, and advocacy for equitable access to dance in all of its genres.
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Visit our website oregondeo.org to make a donation today.
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THIS WEEK: Join us for NHSDA Love Your Body Week - a week dedicated to creating body-positive dance environments!

NDEO invites all individual participants and chapters of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) to join us in this national campaign to encourage body positivity and celebrate all the wonderful things our bodies can do.⁠
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Learn more about how your dance program can create a healthy and safe celebration at nhsda-ndeo.org/lybw⁠

This weekend!

Masterclass November 6 @ 2:00pm
“Entering the Cosmogram”
Oluyinka Akinjiola

“Explore the Bakongo Cosmogram through an Afro-Contemporary movement-based lens. Draw upon your experience with any Afro-Diasporic Dance form and root yourself in the Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, West African, Hip Hop, House, and Jazz voice.”
Register for Classes
www.unionpdx.org [Link in Bio]
PC: Cameron Ousley
Biography:
Oluyinka Akinjiola received her MFA in Dance Choreography and Performance, and was Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance at Reed College and SUNY The College at Brockport. She creates a unique blend between dances of Africa, the African Diaspora, Modern dance and social justice issues. She was a three year guest artist for the Sankofa African Drum & Dance Ensemble; her work was featured in the International Association of Blacks in Dance conference (Washington D.C. and Los Angeles), Carnaval 2014 (Salvador, BA, Brazil), TEDxMtHood, and Newmark Theater among others..

http://rejoicediasporadance.com
Union PDX - Festival of Contemporary
Presented by push/FOLD (.fold)

Did you know?

High school students who earn few or no arts credits are five times more likely not to graduate than students who earn many arts credits.

Learn more about the benefits of dance education in NDEO's evidence report on the impact of dance in the K-12 setting: ndeo.org/evidence
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ODEO's IDEA series #7: Indigenous Dance with Curtis Bearchum, July 29, 2021 7:30 PM
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Oregon Dance Education Organization (ODEO) is pleased to wrap our IDEA series of workshops with our final presentation on Indigenous Dance, featuring Curtis Bearchum, a renowned Native American dancer in the Pacific Northwest.
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Session is free. Visit oregondeo.org to register

Have you danced yet today?

This Saturday! ODEO presents Session 6 of IDEA Series: The Access Divide: Socio-economic and regional access to dance, June 19, 2021, 3-4 pm
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Kasandra Gruener: Director of Education Outreach @ OBT (retired)
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Lisa Greiner: Owner of Oregon Coast Dance Center
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Join the above panelists for this discussion. Session is free. Visit oregondeo.org to register.

ODEO presents Session 6 of IDEA Series: The Access Divide: Socio-economic and regional access to dance, June 19, 2021, 3-4 pm
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Kasandra Gruener: Director of Education Outreach @ OBT (retired) .ballet.theatre
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Kathryn Harden: Founder/Artistic Director of Steps PDX
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Lisa Greiner: Owner of Oregon Coast Dance Center
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Join the above panelists for this discussion. Session is free. Visit oregondeo.org register.

Show your appreciation for dance teachers today on social media! Tag a dance teacher you want to thank in comments!

Session 5: Dancing with Disabilities, May 8, 2021, 3-4 pm. Visit oregondeo.org to register for this free event.
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Meet the panelists!
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Corrie Franz Cowart holds an MFA from University of Oregon, and a BFA from Cornish College of the Arts. She is also a CMA in Laban Bartenieff Movement Analysis, a certified DanceAbility instructor and a Dance for Parkinsons instructor. As a dancer she has performed nationally and
internationally. Her choreography and dance films have been presented across the country and abroad. She was a full time professor of dance at Muhlenberg college for nine years and has also taught at the University of Oregon, Lane Community College, Cedar Crest College and the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown. She has taught a wide range of ages and abilities in the community setting including teaching through Dance for PD in Portland. At the college level She teaches courses in dance history, dance and world cultures, dance and accessibility, composition, dance pedagogy, Laban Movement Analysis, First Year Writing Seminars, and modern and ballet techniques. She is currently on faculty at Western Oregon University and Cedar Crest College.

Session 5: Dancing with Disabilities, May 8, 2021, 3-4 pm. Visit oregondeo.org to register for this free event.

Meet our panelists!
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Kelly began her dance training in Portland OR and graduated with a BA in Dance and minor in Business Management from Point Park University in 2013. Kelly's bond with her twin brother Will, diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at a young age, helped cultivate a strong passion for blending the
worlds of dance and disability which eventually led her to find Heidi Latsky Dance Company. She has been a core member of HLD since August of 2016 and has had the pleasure of dedicating her career to a company that reflects the truly diverse nature of the world we live in. Other highlights of Ramis' career include performing with Modus Operandi in
Vancouver BC and being a member of Donofrio Dance Company, based in
Brooklyn NY.
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Session 5: Dancing with Disabilities, May 8, 2021, 3-4 pm. Visit oregondeo.org to register. Meet our panelists!
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Alito Alessi is the Artistic Director of DanceAbility® International and co-founder of DanceAbility®. Alessi has been involved with the
evolution of contemporary dance for the past 40 years, and is internationally known as a pioneering teacher, choreographer, and mentor. Alessi has dedicated his career to the development, refinement and implementation of a methodology for inclusion and integration of people with and without disabilities. This method uses dance and movement as the tool for social impact. It strives to create, within any group of people, a functioning democracy that creatively speaks to change in a social environment. The DanceAbility Method is taught by more than 700 Certified Teachers with and without disabilities in over 45 countries.
Alessi was selected for a Guggenheim Fellowship (2005), an Ashoka Fellowship, and is a Fulbright Senior Specialist (2007). In 2017, he was
selected as a keynote speaker for International Dance Day in Shanghai, China and he has been a US Arts Envoy in several countries.
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He pioneered a project with architect and President of the Pratt Institute Frances Bronet that served to redefine access, inclusion and design in a series of lectures, demonstrations, and dance performances that toured the United States in 2016.
Most recently Alessi has choreographed works for the Eugene Symphony the Bach Festival and Delgani String Quartet.
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IDEA Series #5: Dancing with Disabilities
This session will include a discussion with dance artists and leaders in Oregon's disability dance community.
How can dance culture and the dance community be more inclusive to those with visible and invisible disabilities?
What strategies have dance companies and programs utilize to identify and dismantle able-ism?
What work does the dance community have to normalize and make visible disabled dancers in professional and commercial dance spaces? In private studios and dance programs?
How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the disabled dance community and what strategies can improve inclusion and access during a major public health crisis?
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Visit oregondeo.org to register for this free event!