Curriculum Research in a Private Studio Setting: A Search for Inclusivity when Teaching Dance

Private dance studios are a place where children, teens, and adults learn about their bodies and how to perform different styles of movement. However, current private studios in southern Minnesota are not doing enough to promote inclusion and are limited on teaching a variety of dance styles. I have analyzed various southern Minnesota dance studio websites to determine which classes are being offered and who they are offered to. This investigation has pointed out the gaps in current private studio education, and I have learned what needs to be altered in order to create a new curriculum that is based on inclusion. This information on several different studios has helped me gain an overall picture of how private studios operate in southern Minnesota, and what components should be adjusted to help more people have access to a greater variety of dance classes. With these adjustments, students can learn how to feel comfortable in his/her own body, how to appreciate different ranges of movement ability, and how to work with people who differ from his/herself