NYU Steinhardt Joins World Dance Education Alliance

Steinhardt is one of 70 members in the global charter, which includes higher education and professional dance training organizations.

A large group of people in front of a screen that says, "Establishment Ceremony of the World Dance Education Alliance" — *Photo by Xie Xiaodong and Lin Yi Photography Studio.*

In October, the Beijing Dance Academy (BDA) held a series of events to celebrate both their 70th anniversary and the founding of the World Dance Education Alliance (WDEA), which seeks to create a collaborative platform that unites dance arts education and professional dance training around the world. As a charter member of the WDEA, NYU Steinhardt was invited to attend and participate.

“The BDA is a top dance training program, and over the years many of their students have come to NYU Steinhardt to study dance education,” says Deborah Damast, clinical associate professor and director of the Dance Education program at Steinhardt, who traveled to Beijing for the festivities. “In addition to the beautiful performances they staged to celebrate their 70th anniversary, I was honored to represent Steinhardt at the establishment ceremony for the WDEA.”

The anniversary performance took place in the Opera House of the National Grand Theatre with 800 dancers on stage. Several founding members of the BDA attended and were honored by the younger generation of dancers. Government officials also offered speeches celebrating the work of the BDA over the last seven decades.

Deb Damast with Xu Rui — *Xu Rui and Deborah Damast. Photo by Mei Xue.*

Alongside the anniversary, the WDEA launch included esteemed universities and professional dance training organizations from around the world, including other charter members. Damast spoke during the Dance Deans and Directors Forum about Steinhardt’s program and its vision for dance education.

Another formal event also convened WDEA members alongside policymakers and government officials and included performances, speeches, and an unveiling of the WDEA logo, which is based on the painting La Danse by Henri Matisse.

“BDA President Xu Rui was such a generous and thoughtful host to us all throughout the events, and made sure we felt listened to and cared for,” says Damast. “I feel buoyed by this sense of togetherness and mutual understanding. In our very fragmented, divided world, perceptions of ‘the other’ are always right in front of us through the media. Coming together in that way from so many different places to dispel those perceptions was beautiful.”

A very large group of people in a theatre. — *Photo by Xie Xiaodong and Lin Yi Photography Studio.*

Some of the WDEA’s founding initiatives include promoting the global integration and development of dance education with openness and inclusiveness, enhancing the quality of dance education jointly by strengthening collaboration and innovation, and fostering cultural diversity by preserving and promoting respective dance cultures. Advisory members intend to meet yearly to move the field of dance education forward through research, practice, and the sharing of pedagogy.

“The idea of bringing together dance education in colleges and universities and in professional training organizations on a global scale was really exciting to me—having us all at the table together will be transformative,” says Damast.

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