JC De'Marko Burnett-Gordon
Dare 2 Dream Foundation
JC De'Marko Burnett-Gordon
Dare 2 Dream Foundation
J.C. De’ Marko V. Burnett-Gordon, BS, BPS, M.Ed., M.A., is a transformative dance educator, arts integration specialist, and Adjunct Professor of Dance at Tennessee State University. As CEO of the Dare 2 Dream Foundation, he provides culturally responsive, healing-centered dance education to students from Pre-K through 12th grade across Nashville’s public schools, community programs, and arts-in-health settings. With over 15 years of experience, J.C. infuses every learning space with the DEL Model, centering student voice, identity, and collaborative dance-making. A certified Language of Dance (LOD) Foundations practitioner and current Foundations 2 scholar, he incorporates Laban Movement Analysis to deepen movement literacy and creative expression. J.C.’s work reflects a deep commitment to equity, joy, and representation—reimagining dance as a pathway to wellness, storytelling, and social impact. His teaching philosophy honors the brilliance of every learner and affirms that dance belongs to everyone.
J.C. De’ Marko V. Burnett-Gordon (B.P.S., B.S., M.Ed., M.A.) is a dance educator, STEAM integration specialist, and nonprofit leader who has spent over a decade using dance as a tool for healing, equity, and creative expression in public education. He served as the first and only Black male dance educator in Metro Nashville Public Schools for 12 years, where he taught high school dance, advised student arts leadership programs, and helped transform school culture through performance and community engagement.
Burnett-Gordon is also the Founder and CEO of the Dare 2 Dream Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to arts education, restorative justice, and youth empowerment. His practice weaves together culturally responsive teaching, the DEL Model, and Language of Dance (LOD) frameworks to ensure all students, especially those historically underrepresented, are seen, heard, and celebrated. His research and leadership interests include interdisciplinary dance curriculum, trauma-informed pedagogy, and pathways to increase Black male representation in arts education.
He currently serves as a Board Member on the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) Advisory Council, overseeing Student Initiatives and the K–12 Mentorship Committee. He is the Founder of the Black Dance Educators Organization (BDEO) Affinity Group and a Fine Arts Mentor with the Tennessee Arts Academy. An advocate for culturally sustaining practices in both community and classroom, Burnett-Gordon is an alumnus of the University of Memphis, Tennessee State University (x2), and the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. He is currently pursuing doctoral work in School Administration and Leadership. He is a proud member of Delts Phi Delta Dance Fraternity, Inc and The Academia Society, Inc.
