September 14 - October 11, 2026

Professor: Tamara Irving

Tuition: $215 member / $315 non-member

4 Weeks; 1 NDEO-Endorsed PDC

**Optional add-on** College Credits through Oakland University: 1

Become a better dance teacher in just 4 short weeks with this transformative mini-course! Whether you teach dance in a studio or a classroom, the essential pedagogical strategies learned in this mini-course will apply to your teaching. Through a combination of foundational frameworks and real-world applications, you'll learn how to better support your dance students’ creativity, engagement, and critical thinking.

We’ll dive into influential models such as Muska Mosston’s Spectrum of Teaching Styles, Bloom’s Taxonomy, Arthur Costa & Bena Kallick’s Habits of Mind, Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences, and John Dewey’s Experiential Learning Theory. You'll leave the course with practical tools to reflect on your current teaching methods, develop more inclusive lesson plans, and meet the diverse needs of your dance students.

No Book Required

To receive college credit for this course in addition to PDCs, you must register through Oakland University by scheduling an advising session and finalizing your registration through OU before the August 15 deadline.

Questions about this Course?  Email opdi@ndeo.org

"I was able to think about how a lot of the choices I'm making as an educator already align with education theory, but now I am able to see how and why and be more intentional about it in the future."

"I particularly liked interacting with my classmates through the discussion board. It was great to get feedback on my own teaching and get ideas and from others in the field. I felt very supported yet challenged throughout this course."

"I feel I benefited from this course in a number of ways--putting a name and context to processes I already use as a teacher, learning more ways to apply these processes through the course material and from other teachers taking the course, and focusing on processes used by both the teacher and the students. I really liked the combined theoretical/practical approach the course took--the theory on which each module centered, the practical applications I do use/could use as a teacher, and the theoretical/practical approaches taken by other students on the course."

"I explored different ways to teach some activities I was already teaching. I liked the fast paced timing. Short 4 weeks."

"This course has helped me be a better communicator to my students. Through the other teachers (who were learning with me) their input and ideas has helped me tremendously to create material for my classes."

"I did find myself approaching classes differently after the readings that were assigned in the class. Many of the topics covered are things I talk about with colleagues, so it was nice to have solid proof of my musings!"

Tamara Irving is an award winning arts educator, performer, and business owner with over two decades of impact in the field of dance. Her professional performance career includes work with the Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Opera, and Disney’s The Lion King on tour and in Germany. Tamara spent 12 years as the dance director at North Atlanta High School, where she built a nationally recognized program, and currently serves as an adjunct professor at Kennesaw State University and Brenau University. She is the founder of TMI Design & Consulting, through which she designs professional development, curriculum, and creative strategy for schools, districts, and organizations. A passionate advocate for cultural preservation, Tamara also co-founded Dance Stories ATL, which documents and honors Atlanta’s Black dance legacy. Her work blends performance, education, leadership, and advocacy to advance sustainable, inclusive dance communities across Georgia and beyond.

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