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Connect Mentorship Program Dance Studio Educators Mentorship Program

Dance Studio Educator Mentorship

Cohort #3 Applications Open - Apply Below by June 30th, 2025

This program serves as a support system for dance studio teachers and dance studio owners with fewer than five years of experience (mentees) in the field. The program also provides those with five or more years of experience in the field (mentors) an opportunity to share their experience and lend guidance to these emerging dance teachers.

Mentorship pairings will be matched in terms of similarities in job attributes, learner populations, and needs assessment. Both mentor and mentee should plan for a two-year commitment, however, it may continue and grow in an alternate form for as long as the participants wish.

Dance Studio Teachers are members of the following populations:

Studio Owners/Teachers
Studio Teachers
Emerging Studio Owners
Undergraduate & Graduate Students interested in Studio Teaching/Ownership

Apply to be a Mentor or Mentee!

Applications for Cohort #3 are open - Deadline to Apply - June 30th, 2025 by 11:59pm EST

The Dance Studio Teacher Mentorship application needs to be completed in one sitting, there is no save and return feature. Please be prepared by previewing the questions below before you start the application. We suggest having your answers prepared before starting the application.

Preview Application Questions Here

To apply, make sure you are logged into your NDEO Member Account, go to member dashboard, and find the application under "Awards." If you are not an NDEO Member, please join here before applying.

Apply Here!

Mentors

As a mentor, you will have the opportunity to draw from your experience as an educator as you guide a newer dance teacher, significantly contributing to the sustainability of the field of dance education.

Mentees

We learn something new every day. This is especially so during the first few years of teaching as you work to juggle teaching responsibilities, curriculum development, program administration, and performance productions. As a mentee, you will have the support of an experienced mentor/coach selected to match your personal disposition and current teaching situation.

Goals of the Mentorship Program

To provide a support system for dance teachers with fewer than 5 years of experience.
To provide dance educators with 5 or more years of experience the opportunity to grow in leadership as they examine their own teaching strategies and perspectives by sharing their knowledge with a mentee.
To acknowledge the important role of dance studios in the field of dance education by creating a program where best practices can be framed and shared.
To provide support for high-quality curriculum design and instructional delivery in dance studios through the intentional networking, leadership, and nurturing of new-to-the-field dance educators.

Application and Guidelines

The application contains several short and long response questions in regards to environment, teaching philosophy, strengths as an educator, and more.

Each mentor/mentee will need to agree the following guidelines if selected:

2 year commitment
Maintain a current NDEO membership
Review the training powerpoint presentations and webinars provided
Set goals and expectations with mentor/mentee
Communicate with mentor/mentee partner ideally weekly (minimum twice a month)
Complete and submit monthly log reports
Utilize Basecamp for communication
Attend 4 Zoom meetings a year

A Mentor or Mentee may be removed from the program for not adhering to the above listed guidelines.

Not a current NDEO Member?

First, sign up For NDEO Membership, OR renew your expired membership before you complete the application. Both Mentor and Mentee must be current NDEO members to apply and remain members throughout the duration of the relationship.