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 including a 6-day week, 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-relevant dance lessons, and extensive practice teaching.
This year’s Summer Institute dates:
Due to travelling and gathering restrictions during COVID-19, we will be rescheduling our in-person training dates listed below. The Summer Institute will NOT be an online institute, but may blend 3 in-person 3-day meetings over the year with virtual support. In-person gatherings will be held in Berkeley, CA in a large space, and following safety guidelines. The health of all those involved will remain the utmost importance. Updates will be posted here and communicated with those who request an application. Please be in touch with Jochelle, jperena@lunadanceinstitute.org with any questions.
Summer workshop: July 13-18, 2020
Midyear Meeting: January 16, 2021
Gallery Walk: May 22, 2021
application available February 2020
deadline for submission: April 14, 2020 extended to June 30, 2020
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 of $25 is waived for 2020-21 applicants.
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.