As an international student engaged with organizations like the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD), and Dance and The Child International (DACI), I have gained invaluable tools and insights to shape my project. 

The guidance from Nyama McCarthy-Brown’s Dance Pedagogy for a Diverse World has been particularly instrumental, providing essential strategies for teaching dance to culturally diverse teenagers and adults, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds.

In Antigua and Barbuda, many young people passionate about the performing arts face financial barriers to accessing advanced dance education.

The work of Petra Kuppers, a respected community performance artist and disability cultural activist, has also profoundly influenced my approach. Her writings have offered crucial strategies for engaging non-dancers in my community, fostering a positive appreciation for dance and encouraging participation in dance-making. These insights will be key in involving parents and family members in the workshop aspect of my project.

My studies at Ohio University have expanded my perspective as an educator, enhancing my pedagogical skills and boosting my confidence in executing this initiative.

"Dance4yourlife" is not merely a project; it is a transformative initiative aimed at introducing aspiring dance students and their families to the many benefits of pursuing dance in higher education, effectively preparing them for undergraduate studies and professional careers in dance.

Brown, C. A. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.citationmachine.net/mla/cite-a-website/search?q=Camille%20A.%20Brown

Daci International. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://daci.international/

Kassing, G., & Jay, D. M. (2021). Dance teaching methods and curriculum design: Comprehensive K-12 dance education (3rd ed.). Human Kinetics.

Kuppers, P. (2019). Community performance: An introduction. Taylor & Francis Group.

McCarthy-Brown, N. (2017). Dance pedagogy for a diverse world: Culturally relevant teaching in theory, research, and practice. McFarland & Company. ISBN-10: 0786497025, ISBN-13: 978-0786497027

National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). (n.d.). Priorities for dance education. Retrieved from https://www.ndeo.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=893257&module_id=242822.

UNESCO. (n.d.). Building a viable Caribbean creative dance marketplace. Retrieved from https://www.unesco.org