Summer Institutes
Summer Institute 2011 July 11-16, 2011
Summer Institute 2012 July 16-21
Dance teaching artists are too often isolated in their teaching settings. Whether as the only “dance specialist” at a school site or bouncing between multiple school sites in a single day or week, dance teaching artists often feel an absence of professional support. Unsure how to access a sense of a larger community of colleagues and unable to feel comfortable as representative experts of their discipline within their teaching settings, too often dance artists feel burned-out, uninspired, or even driven to leave the profession entirely.
Luna’s Summer Institutes (SI) were created to support dance teaching artists to develop their craft. Learning in a collegial group of diverse educators, SI participants improve teaching practice, gain confidence as professionals and develop long-lasting systems of support.
Each year 6 dancers and 6 education practitioners (classroom teachers, social workers, ECE professionals, PE or music specialists) come together for 6 days of intensive study in the dance discipline. There they explore:
-the elements of dance
-creating & implementing standards-based dance lessons
-human development zero to 24 years
-learning theories, in particular critical pedagogy and constructivism
-observation skills…and more
SI participants then receive follow-up services including coaching & consultation, opportunities for advanced study and collegial exchange for the entire Academic Year. To date, Luna’s SIs have been funded by the NEA, Clif Bar Family Foundation and Clarence E. Heller Charitable Trust so there is no fee for participation (though employers are asked to make a small contribution toward follow-up where possible.)
Applicants are selected from a competitive pool with applications available in February. For more information, contact arasera@lunadanceinstitute.org.
Southern California Summer Institute 2012 August 1-4 For the first time ever, Luna will offer a Summer Institute in Southern California. Supported by the Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation, this Institute will follow a slightly different format than its Northern California counterpart. SoCal SI will be a four day exploration of dance content and an introduction to the support services of the Los Angeles/Orange County dance PLCs. Participants will be selected on a first come-first served basis. Contact Meg Glaser Teran for more information (megglaser@earthlink.net).
Advanced Summer Institute
Developing leadership within arts education is a process. Particularly because dance is undervalued and under-represented, leaders and advocates for this field do not emerge from one-shot Professional Development workshops or even a single Summer Institute. True leadership emerges over time and requires support. The Advanced Summer Institute (ASI)–with follow-up services that include lesson study, Issues of Practice monthly meetings, advanced workshops, and individualized consulting and coaching give dance leaders support, encouragement, methodology and practical resources to feel part of a vibrant community of dance teaching professionals. ASI veterans become leaders throughout the region, state, nation and world–bringing dance to all children in the most innovative ways! All SI alumnae are eligible to take the ASI. Contact us in March to apply.
SI participants are followed for a year; ASI veterans are supported for a career!
