Behind the Curtain Blog

By Shannon Dooling-Cain, NDEO Special Projects - Content Writer ~~ Most dance teachers have at least a basic understanding of music. They know how to find the beat, count measures of 8, and understand the difference between a march and waltz. Others go their entire career using their own sense of musicality: feeling the music as opposed to understanding the theory behind it. Still others may be knowledgeable about music as its own discipline, but may want a deeper understanding of how music and ...

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...

By Shannon Dooling-Cain, NDEO Special Projects - Content Writer ~~ In this blog post, we’ll discuss some of the many benefits of tap dancing. We’ll also look at a brief history of tap dance and why it is important to include that history in your classes. You’ll hear from Thelma Goldberg, Director of The Dance Inn, creator of Thelma’s tap notes, faculty at Dean College, and professor of NDEO’s online course OPDI M24-Classic Tap Repertoire: The Shim Sham Shimmy, as well as a few NDEO members...

By Shannon Dooling-Cain, NDEO Special Projects Coordinator ~~ Dance can sometimes get a bad wrap in society. It can be considered frivolous and inconsequential, a nice hobby to have but nothing more. As dancers, though, we know that dance can be powerful! Dance offers physical, mental, and emotional benefits to individuals and can help build strong and supportive communities. Throughout history, dance has been used to bring people together, raise awareness of societal issues, and help support im...

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...

By Shannon Dooling-Cain, NDEO Special Projects ~~ If the term “Creative Dance” conjures up images of young children running and skipping with wild abandon, pretending to be butterflies, fairies, or pirates, you are not alone! Creative Dance is sometimes misunderstood by families seeking to enroll their children in dance classes - and even by some dance teachers. But even though Creative Dance may not be as clearly defined or widely recognized as classes like Jazz, Ballet, and Tap, there are ma...

By Shannon Dooling-Cain, NDEO Special Projects Coordinator ~~ For most dance educators working in private studios, January marks the beginning of recital choreography season. After spending the first half of the dance season introducing new steps and elements of dance technique, many dance teachers will begin creating choreography for the end-of-year recital when they return from the winter break. This can be a time of great creativity for teachers and excitement for students. But, it can also p...

By Shannon Dooling-Cain, NDEO Director of Special Projects ~~ As we wrap up another school year, we find ourselves reflecting on the tenacity and dedication of our members and their students. This year posed many unique challenges for the dance education community, even as the world slowly began to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. In celebration of another year of persistence and innovation, we asked our members to share some of their accomplishments from the past year. Here is just a sample ...

By Shannon Dooling-Cain, NDEO Director of Special Projects ~~ This summer, we find ourselves reflecting on the tenacity and dedication of our members and their students. This year posed many unique challenges for the dance education community, even as the world slowly began to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. In celebration of another year of persistence and innovation, we asked our members to share some of their accomplishments from the past year. Here is just a sample of the responses we re...

By Shannon Dooling-Cain, NDEO Director of Special Projects ~~ This summer, we find ourselves reflecting on the tenacity and dedication of our members and their students. This year posed many unique challenges for the dance education community, even as the world slowly began to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. In celebration of another year of persistence and innovation, we asked our members to share some of their accomplishments from the past year. Here is just a sample of the responses we re...

By Shannon Dooling-Cain, NDEO Special Projects Coordinator ~~ At NDEO, we are keenly aware of the need for a strong and clear vision for the future of dance education. Such a vision helps to direct our current and future efforts in the field, ensuring that the work we do now will have a positive and lasting impact over time. Our organizational vision statement reflects our desire to foster a future that is inclusive and equitable, with an emphasis on accessible, high quality dance education...

By Shannon Dooling, NDEO Special Projects Coordinator ~~ It is safe to say that 2020 was a true test of the commitment, creativity, and courage of the field of dance education. Together, we have navigated our way through the “Ultimate Structured Improvisation” that was......

By Shannon Doling-Cain, NDEO Special Projects Coordinator~~Why should you start a chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts™ (NHSDA) this fall? With all of the challenges currently facing both dance educators and students, an honor society may not be high on your priority list right now. However, the NHSDA program offers benefits...

By Shannon Dooling-Cain, NDEO Special Projects Coordinator ~~ With schools and studios closing in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, NDEO members have been generously sharing ideas for alternative teaching strategies on our Online Forums. These are truly uncharted and challenging times for all dance educators - and our students. With that in mind, we will be compiling some ideas and resources for alternative teaching that have been posted. We are sharing these ideas...

By Shannon Dooling-Cain, NDEO Special Projects Coordinator ~~ Did you know that the month of March is dedicated to dance in schools? Every March, the National Dance Education Organization celebrates Dance in Your Schools Month. We recognize the benefits of dance education as part of the curriculum, acknowledge the achievements...