Dance Education Blog

By Ray Schwartz, NDEO Executive Director, Jess Goodwin, NDEO Conference Intern, and Kendall Hayes, NDEO Marketing Intern ~~ I've been executive director of NDEO for a little over half a year. Long enough to learn a few things, and I still ask why we do things the way we do them. I hope that never stops. So instead of writing about membership on my own, I asked two of our summer interns, Jess Goodwin and Kendall Hayes, to make the case with me. Jess finished her B.A. last May. Kendall finishe...

By Amber Friel, NAfME Communications Manager, Advocacy and Public Policy ~~ As federal appropriations discussions begin for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 2027), a critical moment has arrived for arts education advocates across the country. Decisions made in the coming weeks will shape the future of quality, access, and equity in arts education, and your voice is more important than ever...

By Weiselande 'Yanui' César, Educator, Scholar, Executive Founding Director ~~ In these extraordinary times, it's crucial for practitioners and leaders of Haitian folk dance to avoid acting out of desperation and to remain vigilant against divide and conquer tactics. The richness found within the movements of folkloric dance is abundant enough to support our community. This artistic expression empowers everyone by harnessing the holistic healing properties of its core movements, espe...

By Melissa Greenblatt, NDEO Interim Executive Director ~~ NOW is the TIME to join NDEO and become part of a community dedicated to advancing dance education and supporting the educators who bring it to life. NDEO, as the largest membership association supporting dance education, is uniquely positioned to ensure that all students have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of dance in their lives...

On May 2, President Trump released information about his administration’s FY 2026 budget proposal. Not all details were shared in this “skinny budget,” but the cuts to federal education programs outlined would have a devastating impact on funding for the 2026–27 school year...

By Helen Buck-Pavlick, Doctoral Student, The Ohio State University ~~ Could dance education support school improvement goals? Lorain City School District says yes! At the start of the 2022-2023 school year, Lorain City School District (LCSD) created a K-12 dance program as a part of their strategic plan for academic improvement. A new study titled Dance for ALL: Innovative approaches to school improvement, recently published in Arts Education Policy Review, examines how and why LCSD decided on a...

By Zachary Keita ~~ With approximately two months having passed since the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump, his administration has taken significant action to move forward his vision for American education. In a blog released earlier this year, we discussed the slew of executive orders aimed at curtailing diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) and expanding school choice. Since then, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate, taken office, ...

By Zachary Keita, NAfME Advocacy and Public Policy Communications Manager ~~ On February 12, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a confirmation hearing of President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon. During the hearing, McMahon responded to inquiries regarding her experience and knowledge on programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and outlined her vision for ED if she were to be confirmed by the full Senate ...

By Zachary Keita, NAfME Public Policy and Advocacy Communications Manager ~~ In the early days of his administration, President Donald J. Trump has taken significant action to push forward his vision for the U.S. Department of Education and the federal role in education. Beginning on January 20, 2025, the administration has issued a series of executive orders and agency memos that would eliminate all federal government diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) practice, freeze all disburs...

by Shannon Dooling-Cain, NDEO Special Projects ~~ As dance education professionals, we understand the dynamic, affirming, community-building power of dance. But unfortunately, we live in a time when dance is increasingly misunderstood, misrepresented, underfunded, and undervalued. The challenges facing the field of dance education at this moment cannot be overstated. Funding for the arts, at every level, is increasingly at risk. Dance programs in K-12 and higher education are being dismantled at...

By Zachary Keita, NAfME Advocacy and Public Policy Communications Manager ~~ After years of advocacy from the arts education community, multiple meetings with U.S. Department of Education (ED) officials, and bipartisan support from Congress, arts educators now have long-needed guidance to help them access resources for their programs. On October 2, ED sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to state education agencies detailing how federal funds can be used to support arts education across the United S...

By Amanda Karhuse, NAfME Assistant Executive Director for Advocacy and Public Policy ~~ Following the May announcement of a new partnership to amplify the value of arts education through joint advocacy work, the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), the National Art Education Association (NAEA), the National Association for Media Arts Education (NAMAE), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) co-hosted a webinar during National...

by Helen Buck-Pavlick, Doctoral Student, The Ohio State University ~~ In July, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies 2025 funding bill. The Committee recommended a discretionary funding budget of $67.9 billion for the Department of Education, cutting 13% ($11.1 billion) of the Department of Education budget from fiscal year 2024, returning funding to 2012 levels. If enacted, this bill would reduce or eliminate programs t...

by Yoav Kaddar, NDEO President ~~ The past few years have been tumultuous for dance in higher education. After an impressive shift to new models of teaching and learning dance during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, many schools now face struggles with decreased enrollment, budget cuts, and shifting institutional priorities impacting dance programs nationwide. These trends within higher education and elsewhere within our field have been happening for a while, notably with Mills College (2021...

By Shelby Bensinger, NDEO Program Coordinator ~~ Welcome to Part 3 of NDEO’s blog series highlighting Performing Arts Organizations who are institutional members of NDEO, and celebrating their contributions to the field of dance education. In dance performing arts organizations, creativity and passion come together to uplift communities and celebrate cultural diversity. These institutions serve as beacons of artistic expression, providing accessible avenues for individuals of all backgrounds t...