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 Institute (SI) was created to support dance teaching artists in developing 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 dance teaching artists and 6 education practitioners (classroom teachers, social workers, ECE professionals, PE or music specialists) come together for intensive study in the dance discipline. The Summer Institute experience includes a 5-day week of workshops and connection, follow-up individual coaching and collegial exchanges throughout the academic year, a midyear refresher class, and a year-end presentation of their practice. Course content includes everything described in DIDC-A, inclusion practices, culturally-responsive dance lessons, and extensive practice teaching.
Who is this for?
- Seasoned classroom practitioners ready to infuse dance into their curriculum
- Dance teaching artists poised to take their curriculum to the next level of creativity, address specific inquiry in their practice, or at a point when an intensive collegial experience will sustain their engagement with the field
- All candidates must be teaching or working with children during the 2023-24 year in the US
Luna seeks equity in dance education across the US. Candidates from populations that have been marginalized or who serve under-resourced communities are encouraged to apply.
Summer Institute 2023-24 dates
Workshop intensive: July 17-21, 2023 in person, Berkeley
Midyear Meeting: January 13-14, 2024 in person, Berkeley
Follow up Zoom sessions: September 16, November 4, March 16
Final Meeting: May 25, 2024, in person, Berkeley
Once selected, there is no tuition cost for cohort participants.
Small travel stipends are available for out-of-town cohort members.
Express interest in Summer Institute 2023-24 using the application request form below.
Applications will be available March 1, and due April 10.
How can the Summer Institute support you in your career development?
Read about the experiences of our SI alumni here.
Want to continue your learning at home?
Designed to accompany our Workshops and Institutes, Luna’s book Body, Mind & Spirit in ACTION, and the video series of PERFECT IMPERFECT LESSONS aim to empower educators, practitioners, community workers, and more.
Request an Application
If you’re interested in Luna’s acclaimed Summer Institute, start the process by completing this form.
Application fee is $28. If application fee is a hardship, please email jperena@lunadanceinstitute.org.
No fee for participation once selected (though employers are asked to make a small contribution toward follow-up.)
Applicants are selected from a competitive pool. Participants must be teaching in the United States during their Summer Institute year.