Reflections: NDEO 2026 National Conference
We had an incredible time at the NDEO 2026 National Conference!
The DEL team had a blast at NDEO 2026! We loved connecting (and reconnecting!) with dance educators from across the country—some we only see once a year at NDEO. We had so many meaningful conversations with educators to share how DEL can support them, from professional development workshops to free curriculum and resources.
Inside our workshops
We’re so grateful to have had such incredible engagement and attendance in all of our workshops!
It was great to see folks experiencing one of DEL Founder Jody Gottfried Arnhold’s timeless lesson plans: Dodge Freeze Spin Roll, with Ann Biddle and Erin Lally.
Folks also experienced the Finding Grace curriculum (our curricular collaboration with Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs and Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE), learned Japanese through Dance with Ayaka Kamei Cento, and explored opportunities for collaboration between dance educators and early childhood classroom teachers with Catherine Gallant and Danielle Staropoli.
What we presented:
- Celebrating Jody’s Timeless DEL Lesson Plans — participants experienced Jody’s Dodge Freeze Spin Roll lesson plan through exploration, guided discovery, and collaborative dance-making using the DEL Dance Framework with Ann Biddle and Erin Lally
- DEL + Japanese: Konnichiwa Literacy + Movement! — participants embodied Japanese vocabulary and numbers using the DEL Model, and discovered how movement can boost engagement, memory, comprehension, and joy with Ayaka Kamei Cento
- Finding Grace Through Partnership and Creativity — we invited attendees to move, reflect, and engage directly with the Finding Grace curriculum through a Ronald K. Brown warm-up, movement phrases, and strategies for creative and reflective movement processes with Dr. Rachel McCaulsky, Heidi Miller, Deborah Damast, Erin Lally, and Rachael Lieblein-Jurbala
- DEL Dynamic Collaboration: Early Childhood Dance — participants explored the rich potential for collaboration between dance educators and Pre-K, nursery school, and early childhood classroom teachers with Catherine Gallant and Danielle Staropoli
Memorable moments
We got to witness incredible Native American Hoop Dance with hoop dancer, ShanDien LaRance, and her father Steve LaRance at the plenary and pop-up performance.
We were so excited to celebrate the incomparable Joan Finkelstein, who received the Lifetime Achievement award this year!
Connection and community
As always, it was such a joyful reunion with all of our conference friends—new and old—who stopped by the DEL table. Everyone came by to get their DEL t-shirt, and we chatted about what they’re up to, what their needs are, and how we can support them.
It was great to hear that educators are still excited about our Dance and Literacy Picture Cards. We hope they will be put to good use in classrooms across the country!