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SYNERGY: Uniting to Progress the Field of Dance Education
September 24, 2026 - September 27, 2026
Dance is, at its heart, a practice in creativity, cooperation, and collaboration.
When dance educators work together, it strengthens the entire dance ecosystem. NDEO is one of the few dance organizations that serves educators working in every sector of the field, and we believe in honoring the synergy between them. One third of our members teach or work primarily in higher education, one third of our members teach or work primarily in K-12 schools, and one third of our members teach or work primarily in dance studios, community organizations, and teaching artist programs. Regardless of where we teach, dance is our common denominator. When we collaborate together, we move closer to our goal of Dance Education for ALL.
We invite dance educators in all sectors, genres, and career stages to apply to present sessions centered around this year’s theme: SYNERGY: Uniting to Progress the Field of Dance Education. Share your visions, successes, challenges, and works in progress. In a period of turbulence for our country and our field, we need each other more than ever. Now is the time to join forces and buoy each other up with support and collaboration. Join us next September as we convene in Albuquerque, New Mexico to progress the field of dance education.
Held annually in the fall, a typical in-person NDEO National Conference includes three full days of over 250 workshops, master classes, panel and paper presentations, social events and performances. A full day of pre-conference intensives precedes the official start of conference. The full conference schedule is generally released online over the summer before that year's conference.
**Please click the Pricing tab above to view conference registration prices. Below you will find information on booking your hotel room with our host hotel.**
Refund Policy
No refunds after 8/31/26. Email conference@ndeo.org to cancel.
- 90% refund through 7/31/26
- 75% refund 8/2/26 - 8/31/26
- After 8/31/26, no refunds, but registrations may be transferred to another individual (see below for fees). Please note that the individual receiving the transferred registration must have an NDEO membership to receive a member registration rate and an NDEO Student membership to receive a student registration rate. NDEO membership is not transferable.
Registration Transfers
Transferring registration from one individual to another after payment incurs the following fees. Email conference@ndeo.org to request a transfer. No transfers after 9/21/26.
- $25 fee through 8/31/26
- $50 fee 9/1/26 - 9/21/26
- No transfers after 9/21/26.
Conference Commemorative T-Shirt
$30 when added on to your registration, $35 when purchased on site.
Conference Hotel
Important Information Regarding Hotel Reservations:
- There are two hotel options in 2026. There is not a hotel directly connected to the conference event space, please choose a hotel below that best suits your needs.
- NDEO is not responsible for your hotel reservation.
- Successful bookings will result in an emailed confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation, please contact the hotel.
- NDEO has limited ability to negotiate for discounted rates after our reservation cutoff dates (listed below) or after the room blocks are filled. Please book early to ensure access to discounted rates.
Click here to learn more about available hotels.
Agenda
Additional Questions |
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What level of decision making/budgetary authority do you currently have with your organization?
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| Thursday - September 24 | ||
Offsite Pre-conference Intensives |
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| 8:00 am - 2:00 pm | ||
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#1: Bus Tour Exploring K-12 School Dance Programs in New Mexico
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Facilitated by Liz Salganek and the Albuquerque Site Committee. Bus tour; transportation and box lunch provided. Welcome to Albuquerque! Educators will have the opportunity to see a variety of K-12 New Mexico dance programs in three different local schools. Albuquerque schools on the tour include public charter schools built around the performing and visual arts; schools that work through the arts-integration model; and schools that combine dance education through partnerships with dance outreach programs and contract teaching artists who work within the school day. Dance education in Albuquerque schools includes such styles as jazz, musical theater, hip hop, ballet, as well as local cultural dance traditions such as Folklorico and Flamenco. Please join us to witness the incredible dance education programs in the state! The tour includes bus transportation and a box lunch. Registration deadline: August 15, 2026. |
$90.00 | |
| 9:00 am - 11:00 am | ||
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#3: Flamenco Workshop
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Presented by Deanna Encinias — In this workshop we will discover the history of flamenco, explore musical rhythms, analyze traditional flamenco songs, learn a basic dance, and explore how the art form comes together. Flamenco shoes are welcome, although not necessary. Come with a hard-soled shoe with a wide heel, or even tennis shoes. ¡Olé! (NOTE: Bus picks up 8:30 AM and returns by 11:30 AM.) Hosted by the National Institute of Flamenco (transportation provided). Registration deadline: August 15, 2026. |
$50.00 | |
Onsite Pre-conference Intensives |
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| 9:00 am - 11:00 am | ||
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#4: Hypermobility: its impact on balance and learning
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Presented by Allegra Romita and Nancy Romita — What is hypermobility? Hypermobility is often confused with flexibility and dancers may describe it as hyperextended knees, double jointed elbows or fingers, or loose ankles. This session will explore hypermobility and its impact on how a student learns and executes movement. By understanding how your students with hypermobility process movement, it will enable you to cultivate more inclusive spaces for all of your students. This intensive will provide creative solutions to improve stability and resilience in action through Functional Awareness® (FA). FA® is a somatic practice that integrates functional anatomy and motor learning to develop student-centered pedagogical strategies for all students to thrive. Allegra and Nancy Romita will define hypermobility syndrome, describe what it entails, and discuss how understanding it supports movement potential in our students. You will learn and practice a series of specific verbal, auditory, visual, tactile, and proprioceptive strategies to broaden the pathways for success for all movement learners – especially your students with hypermobility. |
$40.00 | |
| 9:00 am - 2:00 pm | ||
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#2: Your Leadership Voice: Finding + Amplifying It
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Presented by Stephanie Simpson, Deborah Damast, Yoav Kaddar, and Elizabeth Kattner —SYNERGY calls us to unite in order to progress the field of dance education. But meaningful unity does not require sameness. It requires leaders who are clear in their voice, grounded in their values, and skilled in how they collaborate across sectors and generations. This full-day pre-conference intensive invites multi-generational dance leaders to clarify their unique leadership voice and strengthen the tools needed to sustain and amplify it. Through reflection, embodied exploration, leadership skill-building, and facilitated “Solution Rooms,” we will connect personal insight to collective action. Throughout the day, we will explore leadership as a verb—a way of being that is not tied to title, but expressed through how we collaborate, communicate, and partner with those around us. We will identify the qualities and habits that shape impactful dance leaders and practice practical tools such as coaching-based listening, values-aligned decision-making, and collaborative problem-solving. You will leave with a refined personal Leadership Voice Statement, concrete next steps for advancing your work, and a clear intention for how you will engage the conference experience. Dance is our shared language. Leadership is how we shape its future.**Session timeline will be available to participants closer to the date. Box lunch provided. Registration deadline: August 15, 2026. |
$65.00 | |
| 11:30 am - 2:30 pm | ||
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#5: Tactile Feedback Techniques
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Presented by Donna Dragon — Touch or tactile feedback as pedagogy in teaching dance has long been used in dance programs in different contexts. Given the widespread use of touch as a tool in teaching dance and its increasing scrutiny for lacking student consent; potential for misuse; and psychological and professional risks, this session investigates the question, “Where do dance teachers learn tactile feedback techniques?”. When used properly, thoughtfully, and skillfully, tactile feedback techniques can serve as powerful, immediate and sometimes needed pedagogic strategies that can enhance students’ proprioception; body systems awareness (e.g. musculoskeletal and nervous systems); and kinesthetic awareness (e.g. body part initiation/relationships; core support; alignment; and spatial awareness, etc.). This 3-hour workshop bridges gaps between theoretical guidelines and dance classroom applications by addressing the questions such as the following: What is tactile feedback?; How do we identify when tactile feedback may be useful for a dancer?; What specific hand-on cues for tactile feedback can we employ to engage selected anatomical systems?; Where do we apply tactile feedback with a body?; What are issues with student consent for tactile feedback?; What are alternatives to tactile feedback? Through a variety of learning methods including discussing, reflecting, hands-on learning, observing, and collaborating, you will learn the purposes of tactile feedback and its roles in dance education; practical applications; tangible techniques; communication skills; and alternatives to tactile feedback to foster a teaching/learning environment that values autonomy and interpersonal respect. |
$50.00 | |
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#6: Concept to Classroom: Create–Teach–Reflect with Language of Dance®
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Presented by Elena Anderson, orchestrated by Susan Gingrasso, Shana Habel, and Jocelyn Lofton — Language of Dance® educators have partnered with Albuquerque dance educator Elana Anderson, Ph.D., to offer an inspiring experience that celebrates creating, teaching, and dancing ideas from distinct movement vocabularies. Working with only six LOD Movement Alphabet concepts, Dr. Anderson will guide the choreographic process and share her approach to making and teaching material within clear parameters. She will teach phrases that reflect her style and discuss how these specific Movement Alphabet concepts shaped her choices as an artist and educator. Participants will explore, create, share, and reflect on how diverse voices can spark innovation, inspiration, and meaningful progress across dance learning environments. |
$50.00 | |
| 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm | ||
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#7: Social-Emotional Learning through Literature and Dance
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Presented by Kelly Stokes — In the current school milieu, classroom and special area teachers face new challenges regarding student behavior. In addition to a decline in student learning in reading and math, educators have discovered that students lack basic skills in areas such as civility, kindness, conflict resolution, and self-management. The synergy of dance movement with Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) offers a unique bridge to develop many of these skills. You will experience a series of literature-based dance lessons that explore SEL concepts such as personal space, resilience, mindfulness, and kindness. This intensive will also cover topics such as social-emotional development, effective collaboration strategies, and interdisciplinary approaches. Lessons covered in this intensive were originally aimed at grades K-2 but can be applicable and adapted to any grade/age group and to those with disabilities. |
$40.00 | |
| 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm | ||
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#8: The House Ecosystem: Groove, Footwork, and Flow
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Presented by Ryan McMullen — House dance is a living ecosystem built on the synergy of rhythm, community, and individual expression. In this high-energy movement session, we explore the foundational elements of House—the Groove (The Jack), Footwork, and Flow (Lofting)—through the lens of regional Philly-style foundations. Moving beyond rote choreography, this workshop focuses on the "connective tissue" between social dance origins and formal studio/academic training. We will navigate the intricate syncopations of House footwork and the fluid, floor-oriented transitions of lofting, learning how these elements "orchestrate" a complete dancer. Whether you are looking to diversify your K-12 curriculum or enhance a university-level street dance course, you will leave this intensive with a pedagogical toolkit rooted in authentic House culture and the communal spirit of the "Synergy Circle." |
$35.00 | |
| 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm | ||
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#9: Liturgical Dance: Movement for Mind, Body, and Soul
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Presented by María Daniel — This workshop invites educators, scholars, dancers and practitioners to explore how Liturgical Dance, a sacred African-Diaspora tradition, can serve as a powerful interdisciplinary framework that progresses the field of dance education. In this intensive, you will engage in “mind, body, and soul” movement explorations that encourage dancers to interpret the deep messages of sacred traditions while creating powerful opportunities for storytelling and healing. Liturgical Dance emphasizes polyrhythms, call-and-response, purposeful expression, communal connections, improvisation, and sacred movements. This session focused on psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs illustrates how culturally rooted traditions can coexist within contemporary academic spaces. In fact, sacred movement practices can enrich curricula across K–12 and higher education by strengthening interdisciplinary connections between dance, music, history, theology, and social-emotional learning. Liturgical Dance techniques and purposeful choreographic strategies can equip educators with tools to guide students in translating psalms, hymns and spiritual songs into purposeful expression. This process fosters critical thinking, cultural literacy, emotional intelligence, and kinesthetic awareness which reflect core competencies in advancing dance education. Through collective exploration, dialogue and communal embodiment, we progress the field of dance education while affirming the rich and historical traditions of African-Diaspora Dance. |
$40.00 | |
| 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm | ||
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#10: Emotional Adultification: Beyond Appropriateness
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Presented by Neo Lynch — This intensive introduces emotional adultification as a critical yet underexamined issue in youth dance education, particularly within competitive studio culture. While conversations around hypersexualization and costuming have gained traction, far less attention has been given to the emotional labor demanded of young dancers through choreography centered on adult themes such as grief, trauma, addiction, depression, suicide, and romantic intimacy. This session examines how emotional adultification operates across genres—including lyrical, contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop—and how it is often normalized through Eurocentric aesthetic values. We will explore how children are frequently asked to embody emotional narratives they have not yet developmentally experienced, raising ethical, pedagogical, and equity-based concerns. Through structured analysis, facilitated discussion, and applied choreographic exercises, you will: Identify emotional adultification in choreography, music selection, and performance expectations; Examine how race, genre, and aesthetic bias influence what is deemed “appropriate” or “artistic”; Distinguish between age-appropriate emotional expression and adult emotional projection; Practice alternative choreographic and pedagogical strategies that honor youth development while maintaining artistic rigor. This session is designed to support educators across all sectors who are seeking language, frameworks, and tools to advocate for ethical creative practices, especially within competitive environments where emotional intensity is often rewarded. You will leave with a practical toolkit for assessing emotional appropriateness, reframing choreographic intent, and fostering emotionally sustainable learning environments that align with culturally conscious and developmentally informed teaching practices. |
$45.00 | |
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#11: Dance 2050: A Collaborative Working Session
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Presented by Kelley Lester and Jessie Levey — This intensive session will engage participants in the application and amplification of the Dance 2050 Vision Statement. We will revisit the original vision, published in 2014, through collaborative analysis, movement exploration, and creative ideation to explore how its themes can be meaningfully applied within current teaching and learning environments. Through facilitated dialogue and structured activities, we will examine the vision’s key ideas in light of current shifts in dance education, including evolving student populations, interdisciplinary collaboration, technological change, and expanding career pathways for dancers and dance educators. The session will invite you to reflect on how the aspirations outlined in Dance 2050 continue to resonate, where new questions have emerged, and how educators can collectively advance the vision within their own institutional contexts. Designed as an interactive think tank, the session invites you to contribute to the collective stewardship and ongoing evolution of the Dance 2050 vision. |
$45.00 | |
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#12: Somatic Practices for Self-Care
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Presented by Susan Bauer — Relax, de-stress, and gain inspiration, all while learning essential somatic skills to teach to your teen and young adult dancers. In this session, you will experience sample somatic movement activities that encourage a more grounded, embodied presence. As educators, focusing on self-care first is essential for our own wellbeing, while enhancing our embodied experience is also central to the ability to teach the material. Presenter Susan Bauer will introduce her “Eight Pedagogy Principles” from her book, The Embodied Teen. The pedagogy principles offer a framework for introducing somatic practices, which can be adapted based on one’s particular background and student population. When approached with care, we can benefit from these practices ourselves and learn to skillfully invite young dancers into somatic practices--helping them to thrive, now and into adulthood. Come move, explore, and emerge refreshed for the conference! |
$45.00 | |
Merchandise |
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Conference 2026 Commemorative Shirt
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Pre-order your 2026 Conference Shirt and pick up when you check in onsite! Design and color will be announced closer to the event! |
$30.00 | |
Social Event |
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| 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm | ||
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Local New Mexico Student Sharing Performance & Welcome Happy Hour
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Our New Mexico site committee will welcome us all to Albuquerque with a showcase performance of local K12 and collegiate students. Free to all registered conference attendees. |
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| Friday - September 25 | ||
Social Event |
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| 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm | ||
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Grand Opening & Dinner
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Featuring National Awards ceremony and keynote address. |
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| Sunday - September 27 | ||
Social Event |
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| 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm | ||
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Closing Reception & Dance Party
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Featuring buffet dinner and dance party! |
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Speakers
| Name | Organization | Speaking At |
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Sponsors
Continuing Education
Hotel
104310