Young Dance has been at the forefront of Dance & Disability work in the Twin Cities for the past 20 years. We are excited to host several events, beginning Summer 2026, that bring in artists, teachers, performers, and thinkers, of all abilities, from around the country to join us in learning, sharing and, most importantly, dancing.
REGIONAL GATHERING, July 24 & 25, 2026
Young Dance is excited to host a Regional Gathering on Dance Education and Disability: A Practice of Belonging, July 24-25, 2026 in St. Paul, Minnesota. This convening is sponsored by Art Spark Texas with financial support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Part of a national series of gatherings supported by Art Spark Texas and the NEA, this two day event will bring together dance and arts educators, presenters, and creators for workshops, panel discussions, think tanks, and a performance as we explore ways we practice belonging through inclusive dance and dance education.
Over the course of two days we aim to:
- Celebrate the work being done that challenges norms and reimagines the field of dance to be accessible, inclusive, and evolving.
- Investigate access-centered pedagogy, practices, and policies in dance education
- Build connections to be resources, support, and uplift each other.
Belonging is an ongoing practice that we aim to cultivate over the course of the gathering. All events are free for participants. Check back regularly with updated information about programming, schedule and lodging recommendations, and read on if you’re interested in presenting at the event.
This gathering also continues Art Spark Texas’ barrier-free dance education research, launched in 2021, and follows the national hybrid convening held in San Marcos, Texas (October 2024), focused on expanding access for people with disabilities. Learn more at: https://www.artsparkdance.org/refocusing-dance-education/
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Interested in presenting at the Regional Gathering? We are looking for diverse formats, including workshops, movement classes, panel discussions, think tanks, or drop-in activities.
- Duration: We anticipate most sessions will run 90-120 mn. However, we are open to whatever length is best for your work, with a minimum of 45 minutes.
- Compensation: Facilitators receive a $150 stipend, plus reimbursement for approved materials.
- Additional funds may be available depending on session needs.
- Cost: All events are free for participants.
Submission Guidelines
Deadline: May 24, 2026 | Notification: June 3, 2026
We prioritize accessibility in our application process. Please submit your proposal in the format that works best for you:
- Digital: Complete the Call for Proposals Google Form or email a Document (Word/PDF).
- Multimedia: Submit a video or audio recording answering the questions below.
- Conversational: Email us to schedule a time to discuss your proposal verbally.
Proposal Requirements
Please include the following information in your submission:
- Session Title
- Format: (e.g., Workshop, Panel, Movement Class, Discussion, Think Tank, Drop-In Activity, or Other)
- Short Description: A 1–3 sentence summary for promotional materials.
- Full Description: A detailed overview for the review committee to understand your goals and methods.
- Facilitator Information: Name(s) and a brief bio of the facilitator(s).
- Duration: Requested length of time.
- Other: Please share anything else about your offering you would like us to know.
- Please indicate all blocks that work for you:
- Friday, July 24: Morning | Afternoon | Evening
- Saturday, July 25: Morning | Afternoon | Evening
Submit materials or direct questions to: Gretchen Pick at gretchen@youngdance.org
DANCEABILITY TEACHER CERTIFICATION TRAINING
In partnership with DanceAbility International, Young Dance is hosting an 120-hour Teacher Certification Training facilitated by Michaela Knox, DanceAbility Master Trainer.
DanceAbility Teacher Certification is for people who want to teach integrated groups in dance, improvisation, and movement arts, or learn a model for facilitating communities that fosters inclusive participation.
The course covers well-defined methods and techniques for teaching, but there is not a stagnant set of rules. It is an approach to designing movement practices that allows anybody and everybody’s movement to emerge, thereby facilitating individual and group expression.
This course will prepare participants to teach DanceAbility classes for any population, to create mixed-abilities dance choreography, provide leadership and development skills that can enable participants to create organizations in their own communities, and serve as a prerequisite for the Master Teacher and Master Trainer Courses.
This course is taught in three modules:
- Module 1: July 14 to 17 & 20 to 23, 2026
- Module 2: October 15 to 18, 2026
- Module 3: July 7 to 9 & 12 to 16, 2027
Daily schedule: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (subject to change, check back for updates)
COST/PAYMENT
$1,600 (total for all three modules). A $50 deposit is required at the time of registration to secure your spot.
Young Dance is committed to making this program financially accessible to participants. If you indicate on your registration form that you are in need of financial assistance or require a payment plan, we will reach out to you to discuss options.
LEARN MORE REGISTER TODAY