Care-full Creativity Accreditation

care-full creativity

For Dance Conventions,University Departments, Studios, and Teachers to demonstrate their on-going commitment to mitigating power dynamics and fostering psychological safety in dance.

Education is how we change the dance industry. At Momentum Stage, we believe this to be true! Our industry needs to change, as we regularly hear stories of abuses of power, large and small. These harms take place in studios, convention halls, and major companies. 

If we are going to truly prevent harm, we have to start where dancers start, in class. So, we have created educational opportunities for teachers and choreographers. These workshops are designed to help them recognize and mitigate harm, design psychologically safe creative practices, and create change. Education is not just how we change dance, it’s how we change the world.

Care-full Creativity is designed to support dance educators and creators in developing and sustaining consent-forward, trauma-informed creative practices to facilitate resilience, center student mental and physical safety, and foster confident performances.

All workshops are 2 hours, and include lecture, activities, and Q&A.

Workshop 1: Power Dynamics in Dance

Structural Powers exist in dance. Those who hold power (teachers, coaches, directors, choreographers), & want to enable consent-forward work &  collaboration, must learn to mitigate it, to help students express agency. In this workshop, participants will learn how power dynamics affect their rooms, & develop plans to better provide psychological safety, facilitate agency, & cultivate collaboration.

Workshop 2: Care-full Dance Pedagogy

This workshop is an introduction to consent-forward, trauma-informed practices in the creative process, specifically for those in teaching, coaching, directorial, or choreographic roles. Participants will develop creative practices around boundaries, touch, and class culture that facilitate resilience, center student mental and physical safety, and promote confident performance.

Workshop 3: The Psychological Safety Scaffold

This workshop is an introduction to the scaffold of psychological safety, for use in classes and rehearsal process specifically for those in teaching, coaching, directorial, or choreographic roles. 

Participants will develop creative practices that value belonging, facilitate collaboration & communication, center student psychological safety, &  support confident performance.

Workshop 4: The Ethics of Teaching with(out) Touch

This workshop is a miniature version of the 6-week professional development course offered by the National Dance Education Organization to help dance educators evaluate the use of touch as a pedagogic method. 

The full course can be scheduled as follow-up sessions to maintain accreditation.

Workshop 5: Creative Communication and Critique

“Everyone's a critic. Literally. In many ways, art criticism has become the ultimate gatekeeper: it judges more often than it enlightens. It ends the talk, instead of engaging in dialogue.” - Jose Solís, founder of the BIPOC Critic’s Lab. 

But, it doesn’t have to be that way! Learn how to facilitate conversations that are transformative and actionable, helping  both the dance and the dancer. This workshop engages methods from AORTA, CRP, Larry Lavender, and more, with a focus on psychological safety, to make critical conversations productive and useful.

Care-full Creativity FAQs

• What are the benefits of learning Care-full Creativity?

  • Care-full Creativity is designed to support dance educators and creators in:

    • developing and sustaining consent-forward, trauma-informed creative practices to facilitate resilience

    • centering student mental and physical safety

    • fostering confident performances

  • Increased web visibility and third-party representation of your ethical practices.

  • On-going support for your program faculty and students.

  • Cool swag and discounts from Luboo’s Dance Boots!

• Why get accredited in Care-full Creativity?

  Set your convention, program, or studio apart with Care-full Creativity Accreditation that:

  • Shows your professionalism.

    • The dance industry in the US in unregulated, meaning there are no accepted standards of what “good teaching” looks like. Accreditation demonstrates that you know “good teaching” does not include perpetuating harmful practices or traditions in dance.

    • You will also increase your professional presence as you get added to a page on this website for people the search “Care-full Creative” program, and Momentum will complete your nomination for the DA:NCE Directory website as well.

  • Shows that you value training.

    • We know from dance that being in class is how we grow. Teaching requires learning. Accreditation demonstrates that you and your faculty committed, not only to sharing your knowledge, but to gaining new knowledge. Our courses incorporate current science and pedagogic theory, as well as relevant issues in dance.

  • Shows you care.

    • We don’t teach dance; we teach humans. Humans have needs, boundaries, ideas, and creative impulses. Accreditation demonstrates that you believe an excellent performance comes from a confident performer, and confidence comes from psychological safety.

  • Supports the work you are already doing.

    • You care about your students. You go above and beyond every day. The Care-full Creativity Accreditation celebrates the work you are already doing to support student agency and psychological safety, while providing actionable steps for growth.

  • Contains quality programming, guaranteed.

    • Momentum Stage and our facilitators have been offering professional development on relevant topics since 2018. Our teachers have been employed by the National Dance Education Organization to develop courses and webinar specifically for their membership. They are at the forefront of consent-forward, trauma-informed pedagogies in the performing arts, with national and international conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and regular podcast appearances. As a Care-full Creativity Accredited program, you and your faculty will also get access to special pricing on our Professional Development offerings that fall outside of your Accreditation Status maintenance.

  • Offers ongoing, tailored support.

    • Momentum Stage was founded originally by a dance and theatre teacher who was tired of “Professional Development Days” not being applicable to the arts! This program is made especially for dance teachers! Plus, because the workshops are delivered to your organization and are live and interactive, you get to address the concerns you have in the moment. Your quarterly conversations are times to address new issues that arise as you apply your learning, and to get feedback on the actions you are taking. We can also craft workshops specifically for your organization as part of your Accreditation Status maintenance.

• Do I have to take the workshops in order?

  • We will work with you/your organization to design a schedule that fits you and your needs. The workshops do not have to go in this order, but the Power Dynamics Workshop must be first.

• What kinds of “documents” do we need to submit or publish?

  • These depend slightly on your organization, but will definitely include a statement regard Touch as a Teaching Method and a Concern Resolution Pathway, available publicly.

• Are the workshops virtual or in-person?

  • We can do it either way! But all participants are expected to attend live, regardless of format.

• What kind of “Continuing Education” is needed to maintain accreditation?

  • You can maintain your accreditation with 4 (or more) hours annually of continuing education through Momentum Stage. This can be completing the Ethics of Teaching with(out) Touch course, enrolling in our topical workshops around assessment, cultural competency, gender inclusivity, or trauma-informed creative practices, or having us design a workshop that fits your current needs! We will be adding more options as we build this Pathway!

• Can I take get accredited as an individual?

  • Yes, we will be rolling out an individual program! Stay tuned!

• How much does it cost?

  • Pricing depends on:

• The type of workshop

• The number of participants

• Advance booking

• Travel and time required