Tapas Das in Blogs

Register Now: DT+ Teacher Talk, “Consent Practices in Dance Education”

Touch is a hot topic in the dance classroom. It can be an effective teaching, directing, and choreographic tool—when dancers’ boundaries and agency are taken into consideration. As a dance educator, where and how do you begin to cultivate a respectful environment in the studio?

Join our next DT+ Teacher Talk, “Consent Practices in Dance Education,” on Thursday, July 17, at 12 pm EDT, for a thoughtful deep-dive into how to ensure students’ safety and comfort when it comes to touch in the classroom.

This live hour-long Zoom discussion will feature guest speakers Elaine DiFalco Daugherty, assistant theater professor at Central Michigan University, and Heather Trommer-Beardslee, associate dance professor at CMU—co-authors of the book Consent Practices in Performing Arts Education (Intellect Books, 2024)—in conversation with Pointe’s editor in chief, Amy Brandt. Attendees will also be able to ask questions in real time.

About the Speakers

Elaine DiFalco Daugherty

Elaine DiFalco Daugherty is an assistant professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Central Michigan University. She has led intimacy and consent sessions for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, Community Theatre Association of Michigan, University of Idaho, and Millersville University, among others, and has introduced consent practices to theater, dance, costume, and sound classes. In addition to Consent Practices in Performing Arts Education, she has been published in the Journal of Applied Arts and Health.

Heather Trommer-Beardslee

Heather Trommer-Beardslee is an associate professor of dance at Central Michigan University, where she is also the Dance Program coordinator. Her articles have been published in the Journal of Dance Education, Teaching Artist Journal, Journal of Applied Arts and Health, and Dance Education in Practice. In addition to Consent Practices in Performing Arts Education, her book projects include Removing the Educational Silos: Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Education (Intellect Books, 2022).

Please note: This discussion is exclusive to DanceTeacher+ members. If you’re a member, click here to receive the registration link to sign up. We’ll also be sharing the registration link via email, so be on the lookout for it in your inbox.

Not a DanceTeacher+ member yet? Click here to take advantage of our one-week free trial and become a member today. We can’t wait to welcome you to our DanceTeacher+ community!

The post Register Now: DT+ Teacher Talk, “Consent Practices in Dance Education” appeared first on Dance Teacher.

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Tapas Das: Tapas Das, a young entrepreneur of our times started TWIST N TURNS in 2005. A person who is kind, generous, creative and down to earth wanted to start his own one of a kind dance academy. According to him, Dance is a language of movements that involves space, time and the human body. He was born and grew up in Kolkata, the cultural hub of India. Being appreciated in the field of dance all his life, he is extremely talented. He has been dancing since the age of four. Once he finished his high school, he learned jazz/modern and contemporary dance. His horizons were broadened even more when he started dancing Bollywood with Beat Busters for 4 years, which then was the most upcoming dance crew in Kolkata. After that exposure, he studied how to be a dance teacher, which later started helping him impart his knowledge about dance. Thus, in 2005, with the help of family and friends, he started TWIST N TURNS. Starting with a mere number of 40 students, today TWIST N TURNS currently has over 500 students. Over the time Tapas has taught and performed all over the country. He has performed in cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Jhansi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur etc. He has been an active participant in the Salsa India Congress in the cities of Bangalore and Bombay, and he has also visited various International Salsa Congresses in Europe, namely in Berlin ,Singapore, Hong Kong,Dubai. He is been also trained recently at Broadway Dance Center (New York), Alvin Alley (New York) and Steps on Broadway (New York). He is not only a dancer or teacher. He is a successful choreographer and has coordinated various shows without difficulty in our country. His leadership skills are exceptional, thus he is where he stands today. His aim in life would be to become a dance educator. He wants to share his tremendous knowledge in the right way to the right people. He is also, simultaneously running other brands like Zumba Kolkata, Bollywood Studio ArtistWala.com and India International Dance Institute.