Fine Arts Council Conference 2025: Arts Unleashed

In "Myths of Motivation," Lauren debunks common misconceptions surrounding motivation, particularly in the context of dance training. Drawing on impactful academic research, Lauren draws the distinctions between motivation and discipline while exploring the pillars of motivational training climates. In this timely and tangible presentation, Lauren equips dedicated performing arts teachers with insights to inspire and empower their students from the training to the stage.

Unlock the timeless magic of Shakespeare with our workshop, Demystifying Shakespeare for the Stage. This session is designed to make the Bard’s works accessible and engaging for performers of all levels. Explore techniques for interpreting Shakespearean language, bringing characters to life, and making the text resonate with modern audiences. Perfect for actors, directors, and educators, this workshop provides practical tools and insights to confidently tackle Shakespearean drama. Join us and discover the joy of performing Shakespeare with clarity and passion!

In this session, teachers will become familiar with different approaches and tools to enrich dance creation and choreography for their students, as we include our own creativity in the process. Through fresh perspectives and activities (games!) we will build choreography from our personal movement preferences -or our signature neuromuscular types. This approach is engaging and also very useful for class management as we make sure that students feel included and welcomed with all of themselves. Included in the session as well: dynamic anatomy and neuromuscular activation; Laban and Elements of Dance; locomotor and non-locomotor patterns as transitions; and basic group shapes to stimulate collaboration and creation.