DEL Foundations

The DEL Foundations online course provides an overview of the key components of the nationally acclaimed DEL model of teaching dance in a wide variety of learning contexts.

This 12-week asynchronous course is based on the highly popular DEL Foundations course that has been taught at DEL 92NY in New York City since DEL’s inception in 1995. Developed by DEL Founder, Jody Gottfried Arnhold with Ann Biddle as Founding Faculty, the course has evolved and adapted over its long history. This current iteration has been updated by Ann Biddle and Catherine Gallant and reflects current 21st-century dance education practice and pedagogy.

Updated and modified as an asynchronous learning experience, participants in this course explore DEL’s comprehensive and inclusive model of dance education with a specific focus on applied Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) as a framework for dynamic dance making and scaffolded lesson planning. Participants interact in the online community by engaging in collaborative dance making, practice teaching, and self and peer reflection. In addition, participants gain an understanding of broad developmental benchmarks and effective and inspired teaching strategies to support diverse learners in a culturally responsive environment and align with local, state and/or national dance standards. Finally, participants in this course articulate a vision statement that represents their core Teacher’s Heart and consider applications of the DEL Model to one’s unique teaching context.

The DEL Foundations curriculum is aligned with the NYC Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts: Dance Pre-K – 12 and the National Core Arts Standards in Dance (NCCAS).

Please note: This course is offered asynchronously through DEL’s online learning management system. Access to the course opens to participants at 8 am ET. Students taking the course for credit are expected to complete assignments on a weekly basis. Audit students may access course materials at their leisure and are not expected to complete course assignments.

Must register by Wednesday, November 1, 2023.