2026 Wisconsin Dance Education Summit
April 27, 2026 from 7-8 PM online
REGISTER HERE
Featured 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 NDEO’s Dance Educator award in 2006.
Throughout her 32 years at UWSP, Susan's impact extended beyond the classroom. She served NDEO as Director of Resources Review, co-chair of the Applied Strategic Plan, and member of the Nominations Committee. In addition, as the DEiP Associate Editor, she authored the Practical Resources for Dance Educators column and supported both emerging and established NDEO authors through the "What to Publish" sessions with Helene Scheff.
Susan made a significant impact on Wisconsin’s dance education standards. A contributing author to the Wisconsin Curriculum Guidelines in Dance K-12, she has been involved in nearly every revision of Wisconsin’s Dance Standards, co-leading the 2018-2019 state dance standards writing process.
As Associate Director of the Language of Dance Center (LODC), Susan introduced then re-envisioned the Foundations courses to engage participants in playfully exploring, dancing, and using the Movement Alphabet in practice. This revitalization increased participant agency and success.
Since becoming Executive Director, she has been instrumental in developing online LOD courses, building new partnerships, as well as supporting professional development sessions for NYPS and Fontana Unified.
Susan is indebted to Ann Hutchinson Guest, our Language of Dance founder, for her incredible gift to dance and dance education. She is grateful to her LOD colleagues who fleshed out her idea to develop a student-centered, constructivist pedagogy of notation. Detailed in Teresa Heiland’s "Leaping into Dance Literacy through the Language of Dance®”, this innovative pedagogy evolved through researching ways to enter, experience, reflect on, and apply the Movement Alphabet in coursework.
Susan and her LOD colleagues are passionate about empowering the dance education community to harness the power of the Language of Dance Approach. They aim to inspire educators and students alike to teach, learn, and embody movement in ways that amplify their dance experiences.