Dance Educators Association of Washington

Dance Educators Association of Washington DEAW is a non-profit dedicated to advancing dance education in WA State. Join us for our annual conference: www.deaw.org

DEAW:
- advocates and promotes excellence in dance education
- promotes the values of dance in the schools to the community, school administrators, and government leaders
- provides quality workshops, seminars, and conferences that contribute to personal and professional growth

Are you excited for the Spring Conference tomorrow? You don’t want to miss it!✨ Presenter Spotlight: Karyn Bracilano ✨Jo...
04/17/2026

Are you excited for the Spring Conference tomorrow? You don’t want to miss it!

✨ Presenter Spotlight: Karyn Bracilano ✨
Join us for Hiring Practices in the Private Studio Setting with Karyn Bracilano, a seasoned educator, leader, and arts administrator with decades of experience in dance education and studio management. Originally from Detroit, Karyn began teaching at just 16 and has since built a dynamic career spanning studios, schools, and theaters. She holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theater from Point Park University and is certified through Dance Masters of America in Tap, Jazz, and Ballet.

As Faculty Director and Jazz Department Lead at All That Dance, Karyn oversees teacher development, curriculum, and hiring—making her the perfect guide for this collaborative roundtable session. Together, participants will explore recruitment strategies, interviews, onboarding, retention, and how to build strong teaching teams that align with a studio’s values and needs. Come ready to share ideas, gain practical tools, and connect with fellow studio leaders shaping the future of dance education.

Not registered? No problem! Walk up registrations welcome!

Spring Conference is TOMORROW!✨ Presenter Spotlight: Madison Lence ✨Join us for Artistry in Improvisation: Moving Beyond...
04/17/2026

Spring Conference is TOMORROW!

✨ Presenter Spotlight: Madison Lence ✨
Join us for Artistry in Improvisation: Moving Beyond the Technique with Madison Lence! A passionate educator, choreographer, and performer, Madison brings a rich background in ballet, tap, jazz, world dance, and pedagogy to her teaching. A graduate with honors from Brigham Young University, Idaho, she has performed, choreographed, and taught dancers at multiple levels, all grounded in a love for both movement and learning.
In this inspiring session, Madison invites dancers and educators to rethink improvisation beyond tricks, technique, and perfection. Together, participants will explore how to build confidence, rediscover creativity, and return to movement as an artistic practice rooted in curiosity and expression. If you’ve ever wanted to help dancers feel freer, braver, and more connected to their artistry, this session is for you. ✨

Not registered? No problem, walk-up registrations welcome!

Our Spring Conference is TOMORROW!!✨ Presenter Spotlight: Hailey Samarel ✨Join us for Chronic Illness in Dance with Hail...
04/17/2026

Our Spring Conference is TOMORROW!!

✨ Presenter Spotlight: Hailey Samarel ✨
Join us for Chronic Illness in Dance with Hailey Samarel, an emerging choreographer, performer, and educator passionate about creating more inclusive dance spaces for every student. With training across concert, commercial, and competitive styles, and a degree in Dance and Nutrition from Central Washington University, Hailey brings both artistic insight and practical care to this important conversation.
In this thoughtful session, Hailey will guide educators through the how and why of supporting chronically ill dancers. Participants will explore meaningful strategies such as consistent check-ins, accommodations, artistic outlets, clear expectations, and opportunities for belonging that honor students physically, mentally, and emotionally. This is a powerful opportunity to rethink access, care, and what it means for all dancers to feel seen and supported. ✨

✨ Presenter Spotlight: Annie Hughes ✨Join us for Beyond the Freeze Dance: Integrating Creative Movement Exercises Into E...
04/17/2026

✨ Presenter Spotlight: Annie Hughes ✨
Join us for Beyond the Freeze Dance: Integrating Creative Movement Exercises Into Early Childhood Education with Annie Hughes (she/her)! A lifelong dancer, educator, and mother of three, Annie believes dance is a powerful pathway to creativity, confidence, and enrichment for learners of every age and experience level. Her journey has taken her from Utah to performances across the U.S. and India, cultural study in China, public schools, community programs, and now Creative Dance Center in Seattle.

In this joyful and practical session, Annie invites educators to move beyond the same old songs and routines by sharing fresh creative movement activities that connect brain and body, spark imagination, and bring renewed energy to early childhood classrooms. Come ready to gather ideas, collaborate, and leave inspired with tools you can use right away! 💫

Introducing our presenters for the Lesson Plan Speed Sharing Session! ✨Looking for fresh ideas you can use right away? ...
04/16/2026

Introducing our presenters for the Lesson Plan Speed Sharing Session! ✨

Looking for fresh ideas you can use right away? Join us for our Speed Lesson Plan Session at the conference! Presenters will have 10 minutes each to share a tried-and-true piece of a lesson plan that you can take straight back to your studio, classroom, or community space and implement the very next time you teach.

Quick. Practical. Inspiring. ✨
Come ready to gather new tools, creative sparks, and strategies from fellow dance educators!

✨Presenter Spotlight✨Join Bronwen for “See It Dance It! Collaborative Group Choreography with Visual Prompts,” an engagi...
04/02/2026

✨Presenter Spotlight✨

Join Bronwen for “See It Dance It! Collaborative Group Choreography with Visual Prompts,” an engaging session that blends movement, discussion, and visual art to spark creative group choreography. Discover how visual prompts, from everyday imagery to the fantastical can inspire nuanced movement, deepen storytelling, and support meaningful collaboration across ages and levels. Grounded in Brain-Compatible Dance Education, this workshop offers practical tools to generate fresh choreographic ideas and foster creativity, leadership, and community in your classroom or rehearsal space.

Bronwen Houck is a Seattle native and lifelong dancer with deep roots in the Creative Dance Center. She began her training there under founder Anne Green Gilbert and performed for nearly a decade with Kaleidoscope Dance Company, touring internationally. Bronwen holds a BA in Art History and a Certificate in Theatre and Dance from Princeton University, and is a graduate of the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers.
She has taught extensively in schools and community settings using Brain-Compatible Dance Education, and has presented nationally, including at National Dance Education Organization conferences. Bronwen currently teaches at the Creative Dance Center and serves as Artistic Director of Kaleidoscope Dance Company, where she leads youth dancers in creating original, collaborative work rooted in joy, creativity, and professionalism.

We’ll see you April 18th at Creative Dance Center! Registration Link in Bio!

Get ready for what DEAW has lined up for our 2026 Spring Conference! ✨ Presenter Spotlight: Sally Anvari ✨Join Sally for...
03/29/2026

Get ready for what DEAW has lined up for our 2026 Spring Conference!

✨ Presenter Spotlight: Sally Anvari ✨
Join Sally for “Let’s Dance Our Way Towards Flourishing,” a joyful session blending movement and discussion to explore how connection, playfulness, and flow can transform dance experiences. Grounded in Brain-Compatible Dance Education and Anne Green Gilbert’s Five-Part Lesson Plan, this session offers meaningful ways to cultivate “True Fun” in the studio and beyond.

Sally Anvari has completed the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers at the Creative Dance Center, is a TAT Lab alumna, and holds a Master in Teaching from The Evergreen State College. She currently teaches with Johansen Olympia Dance Center, Ballet Northwest, Moving Parts Dance in Olympia, WA, and SilverKite Community Arts in Tacoma. Sally brings a thoughtful and community-centered approach to dance education, grounded in creativity, embodiment, and meaningful connection.

Get ready to see what DEAW has lined up for their Spring Conference!✨ Presenter Spotlight: Sally Anvari ✨Join Sally for ...
03/29/2026

Get ready to see what DEAW has lined up for their Spring Conference!

✨ Presenter Spotlight: Sally Anvari ✨
Join Sally for “Let’s Dance Our Way Towards Flourishing,” a joyful session blending movement and discussion to explore how connection, playfulness, and flow can transform dance experiences. Grounded in Brain-Compatible Dance Education and Anne Green Gilbert’s Five-Part Lesson Plan, this session offers meaningful ways to cultivate “True Fun” in the studio and beyond.

Sally Anvari has completed the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers at the Creative Dance Center, is a TAT Lab alumna, and holds a Master in Teaching from The Evergreen State College. She currently teaches with Johansen Olympia Dance Center, Ballet Northwest, Moving Parts Dance in Olympia, WA, and SilverKite Community Arts in Tacoma.As founder of Inhabit Artistry, Sally offers creative and responsive programming, guidance, support and care through teaching, coaching and consultation enhanced by the art of dance and embodiment practices. Sally finds power, belonging and community in dance and sees the possibilities for people to inhabit their bodies with compassion, alight with genius, joy and love.

✨ DEAW Conference Weekend Schedule is Here! 🎉 Get ready for an inspiring weekend filled with dance education, creativity...
03/24/2026

✨ DEAW Conference Weekend Schedule is Here! 🎉

Get ready for an inspiring weekend filled with dance education, creativity, and connection. Join us on Saturday, April 18th at the Creative Dance Center for a full day of learning, movement, and community.

We can’t wait to dance, share, and grow together—see you there! 💃🕺🏼

✨ DEAW Conference Weekend Schedule is Here! ✨Get ready for an inspiring weekend filled with dance education, creativity,...
03/24/2026

✨ DEAW Conference Weekend Schedule is Here! ✨

Get ready for an inspiring weekend filled with dance education, creativity, and connection. Join us on Saturday, April 18th at the Creative Dance Center for a full day of learning, movement, and community.

💃🕺 We can’t wait to dance, share, and grow together—see you there! ✨

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12577 Densmore Ave N
Seattle, WA
98133

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