Disrupt Dance is a series of professional development workshops for dance educators who want to make a difference in the lives of their students and the industry… if you’ve clicked through to this page, then that’s probably you!
Disrupt Dance is powered by Leap ‘N Learn, a leading early childhood dance curriculum that knows the power of research-based approaches and tried-and-tested methods in the dance class. The workshops will amplify the voices of researchers, practitioners, studio owners and teachers that are doing things differently in dance with great results.
We’re interested in opening up access, participation and success in dance – that means seeing, thinking about, and doing dance a little differently. The Disrupt Dance series is a chance to listen, learn, and explore new possibilities in dance. Through a range of presentations, practical workshops and panels, you’ll discover ways to make your dance teaching practice more enjoyable for all.
Sound good? We’d love to learn alongside you!
testimonial
“Thank you so much for the workshop this morning on Cultivating Critical Thinking in Dancers. It was such a valuable workshop. I am so grateful for the continuing professional development in this format of small, affordable and regular sessions. I am very much looking forward to each and every one!
Thank you so much for the work that you do.”
watch past sessions on-demand
CULTIVATING CRITICAL THINKING IN DANCERS WITH CAITLIN SLOAN (THE BRAINY BALLERINA)
on-demand recording now available for purchase
The greatest lesson dance educators can teach their students is how to learn.
In a world where dancers are often told to listen and blindly comply, we need to train students to think for themselves. This presentation will give dance educators actionable advice to transition from a passive to an active learning model in their classroom... Read More
CREATURES OF NATURE: EMPOWERING DANCE TEACHERS TO LEAN INTO SEASONS AND CYCLES WITH MARISSA MOLINAR
on-demand recording now available
Our needs as dance artists shift throughout the year depending on the season, weather, personal constitution, and other outside factors.
What if we taught dance, and set up our teaching practices, based on these cycles?
The field of ecology (i.e. the study of the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical environment) teaches us that the survival of a species is based on interdependence, or dependence on other living organisms and nonliving components in the environment... Read More
EATING: A DANCER’S GUIDE TO RADICAL SELF ACCEPTANCE
This presentation by Fumi Somehara introduces eating and nourishment as a fundamental component of promoting radical self acceptance in dancers.
The state of energy restriction and low energy availability can be chronic for many dancers for various reasons: unrealistic body ideals; pursuit of thinness; lack of daily fueling; discrepancy in intake vs expenditure; lack of education; lack of diverse representations; and overtraining to name a few. As a result, their bodies are physically suppressed. The health consequences of such restriction are widely known, including, but not limited to, eating disorders, body dysfunctions, and anxiety/depression.
Although mental health care and safe dance practices training are becoming increasingly available, these do not address the fundamental vulnerability of dancers: chronic energy deficiency that creates a ripple of negative mental-, physical- and social-health impacts.
In this presentation, participants will learn how eating can be a vital component of promoting self-acceptance through its role as self-care and self-advocacy, and promoting positive emotional-, mental-, psychological-, physical-, and social health. Read more
interested in presenting your work on disrupt dance?
Great! We are accepting proposals for workshop topics on a rolling basis.
Please contact Jennifer at jen@leapnlearn.com to discuss your idea.
Not a Leap ‘N Learn member but want to know more about how you can get access to free year-round professional development for you and your teachers? Click here to find out more about licensed studio membership.