https://www.lodcusa.org/rss/newsXML.phpLODC Newshttps://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=21https://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=21It is with broken hearts that we announce our dearest Ann passed away peacefully at home, on Saturday, April 9, 2022. To the very end, Ann was the strong, determined, and dignified woman we all loved, a woman who knew exactly what she wanted. She will be dearly missed by us, her LOD family, and the greater dance world. She was a pioneer ahead of her time, and a mentor and inspiration to everyone who knew her. Please understand it was important for the Language of Dance Centers to wait before making any formal, public announcements until all of Ann’s family and close friends were notified. Among her many great accomplishments, which included writing and publishing over 50 books, her proudest was creating the Language of Dance Approach and founding the Language of Dance Trust with its family of worldwide Centers. She was an extremely compassionate person, wanting to share her extensive dance and notation knowledge with the world through the development of the Language of Dance and its Movement Alphabet. Ann strived to make dance and dance literacy accessible and enjoyable for children and adults, from 1 - 103 and beyond! We take comfort in knowing that she lived to be 103, had a remarkable life, and can now be at peace reunited and dancing with her beloved Ivor. We will miss so many things about Ann like her wonderful humor and the way she lit up and commanded any room when she entered. In the coming days, weeks, and months, we will continue to honor our incredible Ann, we will invite the dance community to share your memories and photos, and will ensure her legacy lives on forever.Please see the Royal Academy of Dance's beautiful tribute to Ann: https://www.royalacademyofdance.org/remembering-dr-ann-hutchinson-guest/Love, Ann's LOD Family xxx https://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=28https://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=28 LOD Teacher Trainer Dr. Teresa Heiland's new pedagogy textbook, Leaping into Dance Literacy through the Language of Dance®, is building some exciting buzz. In the August 2023 issue of Journal of Dance Education (JODE), Julie Brodie writes: "Heiland makes a compelling case for LOD as both a pedagogical approach and a conceptual framework for understanding dance. The section on LOD values is a highlight of the book; the focus on “playful learning” for all ages and populations, education of the whole person, and community building all seem particularly relevant to the world today and the needs of our students." Leaping into Dance Literacy through the Language of Dance® presents the theory and purpose underpinning the approaches to dance literacy as explored by the Language of Dance® community in the USA and UK. Through their teacher training programs, they are changing the face of dance-based dance literacy using motif notation. We are in a new era for educating with dance notation, focusing on learners’ engagement by making connections between the learning domains using constructivist and constructionist learning approaches. JODE writer Brodie later adds: "A wealth of ideas and materials are embedded in the third part of the book—essentially a library of lesson plans shared by experienced LOD practitioners working with different populations. The plans are logically organized by age and build from simple to complex. This section alone makes the book a valuable resource for those interested in utilizing Motif Notation in their teaching or creative pursuits. Leaping into Dance Literacy is a welcome addition to books available on dance notation. It is packed with information and ideas for teachers and could also be used in a pedagogy class for students already familiar with Motif Notation. The book’s organization into distinct sections enables readers to use it as a reference book, and not necessarily as a beginning-to-end read." Don't wait. Order your copy today. Julie Brodie (24 Aug 2023): Leaping into Dance Literacy through the Language of Dance®, Journal of Dance Education, DOI: 10.1080/15290824.2023.2222822 https://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=30https://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=30Reach the High Level with a LODC Membership!  Our membership program is an excellent way to support and grow your use of the Language of Dance with access to Members-Only resources, discounts, and more! We offer numerous membership options to suit our entire community: students, individuals, retirees, and our NEW Institutional Memberships for studios, K-12 schools, organizations, and universities! In light of our booming Membership, the LODC is now utilizing PayPal’s Subscriptions to manage and streamline our awesome, benefit-filled program for you (and for us).  All of the great Member benefits you love and look forward to, like our postcards and lesson plans, remain the same.The biggest change is now anyone can join the LODC at any time of the year. No longer are the memberships dependent on the calendar year.  Join when you are ready and know that you always have full access to your benefits.  The PayPal Subscription will automatically renew for you, which means you never lose access to login to our site.No more worrying about renewing around the busy holidays. No more missing out on months of benefits because you forgot to renew at New Years. No more going to place an order with your Member discount and discovering you’re expired. No more emailing Rachel that you can’t login! (Okay, this is probably still going to happen.) IF you were previously a member but forgot to renew at the end of the calendar year, login and know you won’t lose even 1 day of access (To renew: LOGIN to the website and follow prompts to renew).PayPal gives you all of the setup and management information when you purchase your first subscription, including how to change your payment preference and how to cancel. And of course, we are always available to help if you need.The funds from our Membership program also help the LODC SUPPORT our growing community by: creating free community programs, PDs, and workshops; updating and inventing new Language of Dance products; developing new opportunities to enhance and support your Language of Dance practice; launching a new High School LOD Certificate Program; and offering BIPOC and K-12 Dance Educator scholarships for our Foundations and Certification courses.  We are so excited to provide this upgrade to our Membership Program. Please reach out with any questions. Your LOD membership includes the following awesome benefits: 15% discount on all LODC produced, non-digital publications and materialsOnline access to numerous, free downloadable scores, Symbol Starters, LODA archives, as well as lesson and activity plans designed just for your teaching populations (K-6th grade, 7-12th grade, and Post Secondary)Creative and useful Members-only Postcards- every other monthNEW! Digital purchases are saved in Member's account so that Members can access and download their digital purchases at anytime! (Non-members have only ONE week to download!)Fantastic and FREE LOD Themed Lesson Plans and Notation Scores- three times a yearINCREDIBLE DISCOUNTS off our online Language of Dance Foundations Courses! The Language of Dance Center is THRILLED to announce our new Institutional Membership, perfect for Studios, K-12 Schools, Performing Arts Organizations, and Colleges/Universities. Get 2 faculty accounts and discounts for $100Up to 4 faculty accounts and discounts for $200And up to 6 faculty accounts and discounts for $300 Institutional memberships come with all of the great benefits above plus our Educational institution bulk publication discount:15% on 1-20 items of the same title20% on 21+ items of the same title Don't miss out on any of these great benefits and help us build a stronger LOD community by joining TODAY!   https://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=35https://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=35The one who has championed countless dancers and educators on their Language of Dance journey and beyond is now officially a champion! The National Dance Education Organization is awarding the Language of Dance Center Executive Director Susan Gingrasso the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award: Living Artist/Educator.And we cannot stop SPRINGING about it!NDEO says of this honor, “The most prestigious award conferred, the Lifetime Achievement Award is given for exemplary leadership, scholarship and/or artistry, and philanthropy or service to dance education.”Please join us in honoring our amazing, unparalleled, and generous leader, mentor, and cheerleader, Susan by reading all about her incredible work as well as more information about the awards below.https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kRVVxmweA2V-uGcgVKac8op31QFjf-Ig/view And watch her NDEO Award Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTHTa_q8Ztc&feature=youtu.beSusan’s Words of WisdomLet your dance artistry radiate beyond the studio.Use every movement to imagine and explore. Extend yourself to learn and grow.Embrace reflection, evaluation, decision-making, and the power of dance communication.Guide yourself and others responsibly with passion, discipline, and an open mind.Take pride in your artistry and confidently own your creative choices.Embrace collaboration and explore new ideas togetherWe love you, Susan!https://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=37https://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=37Language of Dance is TRAVELING across the globe in so many ways and in so many places. Read below to find out where we are!2026 Wisconsin Dance Education Summit, April 27, 2026Experiencing the Language of Dance® Pedagogical ApproachFeatured Guest:  Susan H. Gingrasso, MA, CMA, is a dynamic and influential figure in dance education. Susan developed the dance major at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, leading the program to national prominence as program head. Her dedication to fostering interdisciplinary relationships and implementing a student-centered approach to dance education earned her the prestigious National Dance Education Organization’s Dance Educator award in 2006. View Susan's session!Fontana Unified School District Teaching Artist and K-5 Educator Professional Development Series, October 18, 29, and December 6, 2025; February 7, 28, and April 1, 2026PD in LOD to Support ELA, Math and Science and PD in LOD to Expand Choreographic, Technical and Analytical Abilities with Teacher Trainer Beth Megill and Foundations Instructor Shana HabelK-5 teachers will play with, learn, and practice strategies that incorporate Language of Dance (LOD) as a teaching tool for English, Math, and Science. Dance Teaching Artists will use Language of Dance (LOD) Pedagogy to further develop dance literacy through composition, technique, observation, and analysis.Drama Australia National Conference, February 28-March 1, 2026Motion, Destination, and Stillness: Pathways to Performance with Master Practitioner Natalie DigginsJoin Australia’s Language of Dance® Master Practitioner, Natalie Diggins, for a thoroughly enjoyable movement masterclass that will give you simple, concrete, tools that are immediately applicable to your classes. Fantastic for monologue work, terrific for groups; the big movement concepts of Motion, Destination, and Stillness will give you a world of options for movement, characterisation, improvisation, devising, and text interpretation. Let’s play!NCDEO Regional Conference, February 21, 2026Rooted and Rising with the Language of Dance: A Pedagogical Approach to Build Inclusive Dance Classes presented by LOD Foundations Graduate Sonya MontsDr. Ann Hutchinson Guest’s research led her to develop the Language of Dance, integrating literacy with dance and boosting students’ creativity in movement. In 1983, Dr. Hutchinson Guest copyrighted the Movement Alphabet, symbols representing verbs of human movement, interpreted in each mover’s own style. As such, the Language of Dance inherently allows for inclusive dance classrooms with multiple means of exploration. This session presents a unique curriculum developed for 5K-8 students to embody the difference between their whole body moving versus a body area. The curriculum demonstrates that the Movement Alphabet (verbs) is supported with more detail when the parts of the body (nouns) are explored and notated. Students’ develop an understanding of how their body moves as they are provided with vast choice in creating movement. Continuing to grow the roots of the Language of Dance, this curriculum also encompasses the Literary Processes as described by Dr. Teresa Heiland in her research. Specifically, this curriculum guides students to: identify the LOD movement alphabet with whole/sections body symbols; create an LOD score with the movement alphabet and whole/sections body symbols; and interpret a written score and translate into movement. This session will impart participants with knowledge to guide their students through this specific unit of study or to create their own curriculum that employs LOD principals discussed and explored during this presentation. Further information will be provided for those participants who are interested in rising to learn more about Foundations certification through the Language of Dance Center.NYC Public Schools Arts Office Dance Educator Professional Development Series, December 9, 2025 and February 3, 2026Generative Dance: A Literacy, ESL, MLL, and CRP Creative Approach with Teacher Trainer Michael Richter, and Foundations Instructors Corazon Tierra and Cassie RossiThese two full-day PDs provide teachers with deeper understanding and skills to further develop students’ creativity, literacy, and critical thinking in dance. Teachers experience and practice strategies to: Support their students’ ability to engage in rigorous artistic inquiry through Literacy Processes of sensing, reflecting, observing, identifying, interpreting, writing dance, and creating original dances. Use dance language skills of dancing, listening, speaking, viewing, reading, & notating/writing. Engage diverse populations by honoring participants’ individual expression, identities, and cultural backgrounds by exploring, improvising, & composing through Culturally Responsive dance learning. Highlight inter- and intrapersonal SEL opportunities in the LOD Approach.Identify and practice various points of entry and access that are essential for Multilingual Learners’ success in a dance class.para Universidades do Campinas, Rio e de São Paulo, October 2025Fulbright Specialist Program: Introduction to LOD, CIM, SA with Teacher Trainer Michael RichterThe Fulbright Specialist Program requires individuals be able to effectively share their knowledge and skills in a cross-cultural setting. Michael taught LOD to 14 groups at 6 universities and 2 schools in 3 cities in Brazil via funding from the Fulbright program and the local universities. All classes were huge successes with so much new choreography created and performed by all.  One group performed their work in the subway and at the Latin American Memorial in Sao Paulo.Michael worked with performing arts undergrads and grad students, researchers, professional dancers, professors from many departments, current and future classroom teachers, elementary school students, and school administrators.  He also developed notation to express experiences inspired by sensory awareness and curriculum in motion (dancing dialogic inquiry). Students eagerly responded to LOD and are ready to host foundations in Brazil! Michael is proud to say this was “One of the most gratifying professional experiences of my life.”Wisconsin Dance Council Conference, October 11, 2025Build our Community- Create and Compose through Language of Dance with Susan H. Gingrasso, MA, CMA, LOD Teacher Trainer.Join us to explore our dance language-one concept, one Motif symbol at a time! Dive into dancing and creating in our Language of Dance® (LOD) Composition class! Rediscover familiar dance movement concepts through Motif symbols while improvising, composing, and collaborating with partners. This class fosters your curiosity, playfulness, and shared discovery about dance. As we learn and grow together through dancing, we grow our voice, our community. For all ages, this workshop celebrates dance, language, and connecting. Come ready to move, create, and inspire one another!National Dance Education Organization Conference, September 24-27, 2025The Movement Alphabet - Movement’s Building Blocks presented by Foundations Instructors Shana Habel, Corazon Tierra, and Jocelyn LoftonDr. Ann Hutchinson Guest, a renowned figure in the world of dance, developed Language of Dance®, a pedagogical approach that builds movement knowledge and develops movement literacy. The foundation of this approach is the Movement Alphabet, the principal verbs of our body’s movement. We will engage with the Movement Alphabet as an entry point into Language of Dance, experiencing these primary actions as a catalyst for the creative process and as an effective and efficient way to build and deepen movement skills. Participants will dance the Movement Alphabet to discover how sensing focuses kinesthetic awareness to reveal the range of ideas inherent in each concept. Exploring these concepts we connect to figurative and descriptive language to heighten the moving experience. Tapping into their exploratory movement reservoir, participants will write and dance their own Motif Notation scores using the Movement Alphabet symbols. Participants will improvise their Motif Notation scores and discover how that differs from dancing specific choices for each concept. In this process, we will discuss ways that writing and dancing scores nurtures inclusivity, self-efficacy, and culturally relevant learning. Guest felt that the Movement Alphabet and Language of Dance were her most important contributions to the field of dance. With this session, and others to come, we honor her legacy and keep this innovative and most relevant approach alive and growing in our dance spaces.North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Comprehensive Arts Education Conference, September 6, 2025Dance Documentation and Notation presented by Master Practitioner Dr. Marissa NesbitEngaging with dance through documentation strategies can foster multiple opportunities for meaning-making and support artists to describe, analyze, and reflect on dance and save their work in tangible forms. The revised NC Dance Standards include documentation as part of the Creating strand wherein learners will use different approaches to represent aspects of the dances they create, perform, and observe. Participants will experience using the Language of Dance, an embodied, artistic approach to dance literacy that incorporates a set of symbols–Motif Notation–to represent movement concepts. We will explore the LOD Movement Alphabet through improvisation and composition and then apply notation to document the dances we create.  We will then reflect on our learning and applications to classroom practice across grade levels. https://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=38https://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=38The Language of Dance Center is so excited to announce TWO new LOD T-shirt Designs! Hurry and get your Feel the Force or If You're Happy and You Know It before they sell out. Both shirts are available in adult small, medium, and large sizes but with limited supply! You know you want them both!https://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=39https://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=39From Norton Owen and Jacob's Pillow Virtual Pillow Views: "Ann Hutchinson Guest's Dancing LifeAnn Hutchinson Guest's connections to Jacob's Pillow flourished from 1941 until her death more than 80 years later, and her remarkable dancing life is now explored in a celebratory new podcast.She was a pioneer in notating dances, and a new playlist highlights some of the many works that have been preserved through a specialized practice known as Labanotation—a system to analyze and record movement in written form. For most of her 103 years, Ann Hutchinson Guest centered her life around dance: performing, teaching, notating, staging, writing, and lecturing throughout the world. She recounted some of her fondest memories as a Jacob's Pillow student, performer, and teacher in a 2016 PillowTalk that also touches on her Broadway career and displays her characteristic wit and wisdom. No special training is needed to sample these rich resources, and I invite you to do just that!" Listen to the PodcastAHG "Notated Dances" PlaylistHistorian and Founding Director of PreservationNorton Owenhttps://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=40https://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=40At the opening of University Wisconsin Steven's Point Artist Andy Gambrell's Art for Humanity's Sake, Susan will debut her new work, a 5 minute introduction to Winter Dawn III — From the Inside. Susan composed and Motif Notated the piece, inspired by the artist's work and unique process. Dancers from UWSP and Lawrence University will perform the work at the opening.April 15, 2026, 4:30-6:30 pmWriston GalleryLawrence Universityhttps://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=41https://www.lodcusa.org/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=41The National Dance Education Organization honors the life and legacy of our Ann, as well as offers a brief retrospective of her contributions to its annual conference through the years.  Read more and watch the video recording of Ann's 2020 Archaelogy Session.