Daria Fitzgerald (M.A., Dance Education, New York University, Professional Dance Teacher Certification, New York State) is the Associate Director of Early Childhood Dance at Harkness Dance Center, 92NY. In this role, Daria leads Harkness Dance Center’s initiative to grow early childhood dance programs across the organization and beyond, teaches early childhood dance classes in 92NY’s Nursery School, Parenting Center, and Harkness Dance Center, and writes curriculum, leads professional development workshops, and coaches through the Dance Education Laboratory (DEL). Daria was recognized as one of the first DEL Lab school recipients for her teaching in the Nursery School.
Daria served as assistant director of Kids Do Dance at The Yard and an associate director of the Arnhold NYU Steinhardt/Global Visiting Scholar Summer Workshop. She has taught children’s dance classes in New York City public schools, the Penn Family Early Childhood Center, the JCC, and various other community and arts organizations. Daria published curriculum through the New York City Department of Education and was the lead curriculum designer of The Yard’s Making It program.
Daria has presented professional development workshops through the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), Dancing Classrooms, and The Lawrence Arts Center. She served on NDEO’s board of directors and development committee. While in graduate school, Daria founded the Steinhardt Dance Education Association, received the Steinhardt Music and Performing Arts Professions award, and twice received the New York State Dance Education Association graduate student award.
Daria visited Uganda three times to collaborate with and learn from teachers there. She curates an Instagram page where she shares her favorite books to use in children’s dance classes @booksfordancing.