2025 Minnesota Dance Summer Workshop: Rhythm and Legacy

August 19, 2025

Dance educators travelled from as far away as Ely, Minnesota to attend Rhythm and Legacy on August 14, 2025. This year, the Minnesota Dance Summer Workshop focused on both modern Afro-Caribbean and tap dance.

Dance Education Specialist Mary Harding (center) beams with her former students, left: Davente Gilreath (Dance 2010) and right: Matthew Wagner (Dance 1999)

Guest teachers Davente Gilreath (Dance 2010) and Matthew Wagner (Dance 1999) were key in making this day a huge success! Davente Gilreath was a member of Garth Fagan Dance for eight years and is currently a dance instructor at the University of Minnesota where he teaches Contemporary African Diasporic Movement and Jazz. Matthew Wagner is an Assistant Professor of Dance and Musical Theater at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. His research is focused in dances of the African Diaspora like tap and jazz.

The workshop started with a discussion of identity, movement affinities, and personal dance history. The guest teachers deepened this discussion through their teaching, movement, and personal remembrances. A reflection discussion followed each movement portion, allowing participants to connect their learning to their classroom teaching experiences.

One participant shared, “This workshop reminded me why I fell in love with dance in the first place. The energy, the passion, and the community. It was pure joy from start to finish! I hope to recreate a similar atmosphere with my middle school students where they feel safe to explore, play, and express themselves.”

Educators participate in movement during Minnesota Dance Summer Workshop: Rhythm and Legacy

A dance educator from the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District reflected, “I have not lost my edge to learn hard things. Taking a tap class was so enjoyable! I haven’t been able to do that in such a long time and it was refreshing and brought me joy.”

The Minnesota Dance Summer Workshop was facilitated by Mary Harding, Perpich Center’s Dance Education Specialist. Following the workshop, Mary wrote to the participants, “Thank you so much for bringing your energy, your enthusiasm, and your joy to Perpich. I feel uplifted by you all. I am so grateful to Davente and Matthew for leading us through an amazing day of movement, stories, and laughter. The conversation around teaching was so deep, personal, and moving.”