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OPDI-128

Foundations of Dance Education Research

Early Access Registration NOW OPEN for NDEO Members

General Registration Opens Friday, March 20

June 22 - September 13, 2026

Professor: Matthew Henley

Tuition: $550 member / $625 non-member

12 Weeks; 3 NDEO-Endorsed PDCs

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This course introduces novice dance education researchers and “research curious” dance educators and students to the goals, logics, and practices of social science-based dance education research. We will begin by situating educational research within the broader landscapes of cultural knowledge production and academic research. We will develop research literacy by reading research methodology texts and analyzing examples of dance education research. Along the way, students will discuss and identify areas of curiosity in their professional and personal dance practices and propose possible research designs to address those curiosities. This course is appropriate for students and educators who might not see themselves conducting research, but are interested in reading and understanding research. It is appropriate for novice researchers who are interested in conducting research and are seeking to expand their formal education in research methods. It is also appropriate for more seasoned researchers who are interested in reinvesting in the basics of research in order to reinvigorate their practice. Overarching the activities of the course is a goal to build the community of knowledgeable dance education research consumers and producers who advocate for the diverse roles dance education can play across the lifespan and communities.

Questions about this course? Send an email to opdi@ndeo.org

Past Student Testimonials

New Course Summer 2026

Professor Bio

Matthew Henley, PhD, MFA is Associate Professor of Dance Education and Affiliated Researcher in the Arnhold Institute for Dance Education Research, Policy & Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University. Henley’s research describes the cognitive and social-emotional skills associated with dance education. Henley's interests include enactive cognition in the arts, developmental and neuroscientific approaches to embodied knowing, research methods for pedagogy, and the pedagogy of research methods. Henley danced professionally in New York City with Sean Curran Company and Randy James Dance Works. Henley earned his doctorate in Educational Psychology: Learning Sciences from the University of Washington, and M.F.A. in Dance from the same institution. He is an Associate Editor of JoDE.

How Courses Work

National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)

8609 Second Ave, Suite #203B
Silver Spring, MD 20910

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