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INITIATE DANCE
DANCE EDUCATION & CULTURAL INCLUSION
DANCE TEACHERS' INTENSIVE
THURSDAY 13TH MARCH 2025, AUCKLAND
The Dance Teachers' Intensive is a professional development workshop and networking event which will bring together dance teachers in Tāmaki Makaurau and provide a space to explore inclusive and culturally responsive dance teaching practices.
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DATE: Thursday 13th March 2025
TIME: 6pm-9pm
(6-8pm workshop, 8-9pm nibbles & networking)
LOCATION: Ceramco Park Function Centre
120 Glendale Road, Glen Eden
COST: $20 for the full event
OPEN TO: People teaching dance in schools, studios, communities and people who are interested in dance education (limited spaces available)
FACILTATED BY: Teuila Hughes & Trudy Dobbie
In this workshop teachers will participate in group discussions and movement activities to critically explore their own and wider dance teaching practices in their community.
The workshop aims to consider aspects of current dance education practices and intercultural competence specifically in relation to what and how dance can be taught in dance classes within Aotearoa New Zealand and wider communities. The project will encourage critical and innovative thinking and development around how dance education can be developed to foster inclusive and culturally responsive teaching practices.
All dance teachers and people interested in dance education are welcome to attend, and workshop content will be tailored to those attending. The workshop is suitable for anyone who is teaching any sort of dance to all ages and abilities.
Places are limited & the workshops are in-person only.
This programme is supported by the Auckland Council Creative Communities Scheme.
TEUILA HUGHES
CO-ORGANISER & FACILITATOR
Teuila Hughes is a Ph.D. candidate and graduate teacher in Dance Studies at Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland. As a Samoan-Australian woman, artist, teacher, and researcher, she is drawn to discourse that unearths socio-cultural narratives, pertaining to identity and sustainability of indigenous ways of knowing, doing, and being. Her work has moved her through diverse cultural landscapes including Fiji, Samoa, Hawai’i, Colombia and China. Grounded in indigenous Oceanic theories and methodologies, her current research explores indigenous articulations of embodied knowledge within Samoan dance practice, pedagogy, and performance. Teuila’s work is rooted in her commitment to fostering inclusive and empowering learning environments, with aims to ignite transformative dialogue and practice within academic and community spaces.
KRISTIE MORTIMER
CO-ORGANISER & ADMINISTRATOR
Kristie Mortimer is a dance educator and researcher who was based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland in Aotearoa New Zealand, but is currently living in Norway working as a Postdoc in Arts Education at Nord University. Kristie holds a PhD in Dance Studies from the University of Auckland (2020). She was awarded the Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance 2020 at the University of Otago. In 2015, Kristie founded Initiate Dance, a community dance initiative aimed at creating inclusive and accessible opportunities for young people to participate in dance.
Kristie has been actively engaged in dance education and community dance activities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand for over fifteen years, teaching in schools, studios, Corrections Facilities and the wider community. Kristie’s research interests include dance pedagogy, community dance, dance ethnography, dance education in diverse socio-cultural contexts, and multiculturalism in dance and arts education.
For any questions please contact Kristie at initiatedance@gmail.com.
FAQ
Can I book and pay later?
Yes, you can fill in the booking form to register your spot in the workshop - a great idea to do sooner rather than later since spaces are limited! Payment will then be required to confirm your space by 12th March 2025. Invoices can be sent to schools/organisations, and later payment can be arranged if necessary.
If cost is a barrier to participating, please contact us to chat.
Do I need to bring anything?
You will need to bring comfortable clothing to move in, paper/book and pen, and an open mind! Some snacks will be provided.
Does it matter what kind of dance I teach?
Definitely not! Anyone who teaches dance or is interested in teaching dance is welcome to join. Dance teachers from any context will find it beneficial and enjoyable, and the content will be adapted to suit those attending.
Does it matter if I haven't been a student or participated in workshops for a while?
Definitely not! The workshop will be a safe and inclusive space for learning, creating and sharing movement and ideas.
What will we actually be doing? Are we dancing and/or having discussions?
There will be a mix of dancing and discussions, probably about a 50/50 split. You will be working collaboratively to learn and create dances, while also having group discussions and opportunities for self-reflection.
Any other questions? Please contact Kristie at initiatedance@gmail.com.