Mary Harding, Dance Instructor, Presents at 2025 National Dance Education Organization Conference

October 10, 2025

Mary Harding (standing left) presents at National Dance Education Organization

Mary Harding, Perpich Dance Instructor and Dance Education Specialist, was a presenter at the national conference of National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) in early October, 2025. Harding, who was recently also a member of the NDEO Policy Board of Directors, presented a workshop titled “We Come from Stardust-Story, Self, and Dance”. The presentation highlighted her work as a dance instructor at Perpich Arts High School and as the dance education specialist for dance educators across the state of Minnesota. Mary has also presented this work at state conferences for arts teachers and physical education teachers. The NDEO conference, The Power of Movement: Dance Traditions and Innovations, took place in Detroit, Michigan.

L to R: Dr. Betsy Maloney-Leaf (University of Minnesota) and Karis Sloss (Performing Institute of Minnesota Arts High School (PiM))

This year, Minnesota had 14 attendees at the conference. Dance teachers from Ely to Rosemount were in attendance, absorbing information and bringing it back to their schools. Educators from Minnesota at the conference have also attended multiple dance education professional development opportunities at Perpich. Mary organized a Minnesota meet up at the conference, hopefully the first of many. Also presenting from Minnesota were Dr. Betsy Maloney-Leaf (University of Minnesota) and Karis Sloss (Performing Institute of Minnesota Arts High School (PiM)) on their research on mentorship and new teacher retention. Betsy also hosted a Special Interest Group meeting for Dance Teacher Trainers that Mary attended. These group meetings allow participants to share experiences that can support those who support dance teachers in the field. A great benefit of the conference is opportunities to share and compare from state to state.

Harding (right) is pictured with Cleo Mack (Dance 1994) (left)

Mary was thrilled to connect with two Perpich alumna who attended the NDEO conference and Mary’s sessions: Cleo Mack (Dance 1994), now Director of Dance at Middlesex County (NJ) Magnet School, and Carrie Brueck Morris (Dance 1996), Dance Curriculum Coordinator and Professor at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. “The power of dance” was an underlying theme of this conference and “here it is represented by Perpich alumna and Perpich collaborators, reaching across the state and the country,” said Harding.

“I have experienced the strength and community at national dance education conferences for many years,” said Mary. “And I have seen that same strength and community from our Minnesota dance educators. This year, to see those two things collide in real time in front of my eyes, was awe-inspiring. So now, I hope that more and more Minnesota dance educators share their stories and their journeys at national conferences.”

Storytelling through movement was an underlying theme of this conference and Mary and conference attendees were invited to celebrate that Dance is powerful. “It carries cultures and traditions forward, tells stories, bridges divides, connects communities, expresses individuality, develops empathy, and so much more,” as written in the NDEO conference program. “As a dance education professional, you are part of the dynamic, affirming, community-building, transformative power of dance. Now more than ever, we need to come together to celebrate the rich traditions that make up this powerful art form and be the change that is needed to push it into the future.”

Mary Harding (right) is pictured with members of the 2013 writing team for the National Core Arts Standards for Dance

Mary Harding, MAED, BA, National Dance Teacher of the Year (2002), has been head of the dance program at Perpich Arts High School in Minnesota since 1990. Her award-winning research, “Peer Coaching in the Arts Classroom” (2009), and her article “Assessment In The High School Technique Class-Creating Thinking Dancers” (2012), were both published in JODE. Mary received the SURDNA Arts Teachers Fellowship (2002) and was a teaching artist for the Annenberg Art of Teaching the Arts (2005). Mary was a writing team member of the Minnesota Standards and the National Core Arts Standards for Dance. She serves as Dance Education Specialist at Perpich, supporting K-12 Dance Educators across Minnesota. She served on the policy board of NDEO (2020-2023) and worked on the Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion audit, the By-laws Committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee. She is currently a supervising teacher for candidates in the University of Minnesota’s Arts in Education program. She wrote a pilot lesson for the NCAS Community for All Learners Lesson Piloting Team. She is also a participant in a national Professional Learning Community through Connected Arts Network. These opportunities build skills and knowledge that Harding uses to support the Minnesota dance educators. Her interests lie in K-12 dance standards, equity and access in curriculum development, highlighting student voice, supporting emerging K-12 teachers through professional development and encouraging leadership at every level.

The National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) is a non-profit, membership organization dedicated to advancing dance education centered in the arts for people of all backgrounds. NDEO provides dance artists, educators, and administrators of all backgrounds a network of resources and support, a base for advocacy and research, and access to professional development opportunities that focus on the importance of dance in the human experience.