DEL Dance for Adolescent Learners (Ages 12-18)

DEL Dance for Adolescent Learners (Ages 12-18)

Course Description: This six-module asynchronous course focuses on designing engaging, meaningful, and age-appropriate dance activities and lessons for dancers ages 12-18. Participants learn how to apply the DEL Dance Framework through movement exploration and collaborative dance-making that builds community and empowers adolescent dancers to gain agency in their artistry. Each weekly module is designed by a DEL Facilitator who shares best practices for working with teens in diverse teaching settings linked to specific curricula themes and topics. The course features student-centered interdisciplinary modules that support authentic and self-directed learning for adolescent learners.  

Course Curated and Designed by: Ann Biddle

Course Modules:

1. Module 1: Developmental Benchmarks of Adolescents & Alonzo King Dance Unit, developed by Ann Biddle
2. Module 2: Dancing Identities, developed by Susan Pope
3. Module 3: Connected Movements: Exploring Self, Community, Dance, and Social and Emotional Learning, developed by Edwin Brathwaite
4. Module 4: Social Justice and Dance-Making, developed by Felice Santorelli
5. Module 5: Waacking and Queer Dance: Making your Classroom More Inclusive, developed by David Lee
6. Module 6: Listening to Learn and Curiosity to Create Intergenerational Learning Through Dance, developed by Katrina Brown-Aliffi

Learning Objectives: Students will…

• Deepen understanding of the developmental characteristics and benchmarks of students ages 12-18.
• Develop the skills to design and teach engaging, relevant, and developmentally appropriate learning experiences for adolescent dancers.
• Explore the components of the DEL model, with a focus on the DEL Dance Framework as a tool for lesson planning and curriculum design for adolescent dance students.
• Identify effective instructional strategies and methodologies to inspire and support middle and high school dance students.
• Apply principles of culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP) and integrate social-emotional learning (SEL) strategies into the dance classroom.
• Connect dance to other disciplines—including ELA, history, and community engagement—offering multiple entry points for student-centered dance-making.
• Engage in embodied reflective practice, using the DEL model to examine and explore one’s teacher identity.

Course Format: Asynchronous – All course material online! Students receive access to all course materials for 1 Year.

Prerequisites: None

Study Options: Independent Study ($190) or Facilitated Study ($380)

Independent Study – Cost: $190

Independent Study courses offer students the freedom to learn at their own pace, allowing them to dedicate as much or as little time to the material as they choose. With no set deadlines, students have full control over the timing and progression of their learning. This format is best suited for those who prefer to study independently and autonomously. Students will retain access to course materials for one year, providing ample opportunity to revisit and review content at their convenience.

Facilitated Study – Cost: $380

Facilitated Study courses offer a more structured and interactive learning experience, ideal for students who value consistent feedback, community engagement, and a clear course timeline. Students will submit weekly assignments, along with a final assignment, and receive written feedback from facilitators. Courses may include discussion boards for peer interaction and all feature a mid-course Zoom meeting where students can meet their cohort, engage with peers, and connect directly with the course facilitator for additional support and guidance. Designed for students who thrive in a guided, collaborative setting, this format requires approximately 3 hours of engagement per week. Additionally, all Facilitated Study courses are eligible for undergraduate credit through DEL’s partnership with SUNY Empire State University for a separate and additional fee. 

Facilitated Study Course Dates:  Jan 5 – Feb 15, 2026, with final assignments due March 1, 2026.

Credits:

Students may take this course for SUNY Empire State University credit for a separate and additional fee, and will receive 4 undergraduate credits. 

Educators can also receive New York State CTLE credits for completed DEL courses.

Discounts:

• NYCDOE dance specialists get 50% off every DEL course.
• NYCDOE common branch teachers get 10% off every DEL course.
• NYCDOE Arnhold New Teachers get DEL courses free for their first and second year teaching in the DOE.

Scholarships: Scholarships are available through 92NY. General 92NY scholarship information and applications are found HERE. 

Must register by Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

QUESTIONS? Please reach out to [email protected].

Photo by Cherylynn Tsushima for Nel Shelby Productions.

Meet Your Instructors

Dr. Katrina Brown-Aliffi

Dr. Katrina Brown-Aliffi (MS, MA, EdD) is a dance educator at Harlem High School and has been teaching within the Democracy Prep Public Schools network since 2017. Brown-Aliffi is also a recent 2024 graduate of the Dance Education doctoral program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research interests include: arts and dance education in charter schools context-specific...

Read More About Dr. Katrina Brown-Aliffi