July 9–12, 2026

ORANGE, CA: CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY

Backhausdance Educators Institute: The Art of Teaching Dance is a four-day professional learning intensive for K–6, middle and high school, and collegiate dance educators who see teaching as both a profession and an art form.

Held concurrently with the Backhausdance Summer Intensive for students ages 12–professional, the Institute offers a unique opportunity to deepen your own practice while witnessing training and choreography in real time. Educators are invited to observe select classes and in-progress rehearsals, gaining insight into how professional-level processes can be translated into their own classrooms and studios.

Workshops and classes are led by seasoned education leaders from across the country, alongside faculty from Chapman University and artists from Backhausdance. This diverse teaching cohort creates a rare environment where K–12 and collegiate educators, university faculty, and professional artists learn side by side—building meaningful connections that extend beyond the four days of the Institute. Participants gain access not only to new tools and approaches, but also to a network of colleagues they can continue to collaborate with throughout the year.

WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE

• Personal wellness for educators – practices to sustain your body, creativity, and longevity in the field

• Dance technique across styles – contemporary, jazz, and more to refresh your own movement practice

• Social-emotional learning through dance – concrete strategies to support student well-being and classroom culture

• Curriculum design & lesson development – build units and lessons tailored to your specific students and settings

• Reading, writing, and dance – literacy connections that deepen reflection and critical thinking

• Cross-curricular connections – bring dance into dialogue with other subject areas

• Choreography & creative process workshops – tools to guide students in making original work

The Institute also includes a lecture-demonstration performance with the Backhausdance professional company, offering an inside look at the current repertory and the choreographic process behind it—from first ideas to finished work.

Across the four days, participants will refill their own creative well, design learning experiences that reflect their students’ needs, and join a vibrant community of educators committed to sharing ideas and resources throughout the year. Participants receive access to archived materials, sample lessons, and ongoing opportunities for collaboration and support.

HOUSING

If you aren’t local, we offer housing options at the beautiful Ayres Hotel Orange with an optional shuttle to and from campus each day. The housing fee covers a 2-Queen room with a mini fridge and microwave.

REGISTRATION

Program Registration Fee: $700

Housing Fee: $120/night