FA^®Summer Study for Dance Educators integrates the principles of Functional Awareness® Anatomy in Action & FA^® somatics with the study of yoga and dance techniques.

 

“Thank you so much for all your insight over the past year. Your program significantly enhanced the quality of education that I was able to present to my students in a challenging time and had a huge influence on my own personal practice. I look forward to seeing you again in the future.”
–Laura Halm, Department Head, Baltimore School for the Arts

Click here to see more of what folks are saying >>

Functional Awareness  4-day Summer Study
July 27-30 2026

REGISTER NOW

Functional Awareness Summer Study Course Outcomes 

• Learn/review anatomical landmarks in the human body and principles of motor learning
• Embody the Functional Awareness  Somatic and Reflective Practice of 4Rs
• Explore Anatomical Visualizations to Improve Dance Skill
• Learn about current research in motor learning and integrative anatomy.
• Investigate the FA Approach to Core Support for Dynamic Alignment
• Discover the Relationship of Fascia to Dynamic alignment and Muscular Resilience
• Practice a pedagogical approach to honor individual differences in student learning through student-centered processes and equity-informed alignment cueing

Sample Outline of Each Day

9:30am –10:15am Optional movement warm up

10:30am – 12:30pm Functional Awareness® practice & application

12:30pm – 1:00pm Lunch break

1:00pm – 2:45pm Functional Awareness® practice & application

3:00 –4:00 pm – Applied practice in dance training: optional technique class

(No applied practice session in the afternoon on Thursday)

Overall Learning goals

Participants will:

• Improve fluency in functional anatomy as applied to dance training
• Honor individual differences to promote inclusive learning
• Develop skills to enhance movement potential for all who choose to dance
• Investigate and embody Functional Awareness® approaches to improve skill and develop conscious practices in self-care
• Practice verbal, tactile, & visual cues to enhance efficacy in action
• Integrate practical applications in functional anatomy and somatic practice to support inclusive learning and diverse perspectives in dance

Sample Curriculum

Day 1 Morning Session:
Introduction to a Functional Awareness Approach

• Deepen understanding of movement function

• Introduction to equity-informed Cueing to improve dynamic alignment in ankle/foot

• Embody the Functional Awareness reflective practice of 4Rs

• Investigate Mental Training Strategies to Facilitate Change in Action

• Discover the Relationship of Fascia to Dynamic Alignment and Resilience in Action

• Learn about Contemporary Research in Motor Learning and Integrative Anatomy.

• Practice a Pedagogical Approach to Honor Individual Differences in Student Learning through student-centered

Day 1 Afternoon Session:
How Systems for Balance Affect Student Learning

• Investigate 7 systems that impact balance and how these systems affect student learning

• Investigate the role of proprioception in balance and motor skills

• Practice a pedagogical approach to honor individual differences through student-centered learning

• Learn about current research in body systems to support motor learning

• Develop Practices for self-care and dancer wellness

Day 2 Morning Session:
Core Stability & Spinal Expressivity

• Examine spinal features and the factors that affect stability and expressivity

• Move through actions of primary and secondary curves & spinal rotation to improve spinal action for any form of dance or population of movers.

• Practice FA anatomical visualizations to improve spinal stability

• Learn about current research integrative anatomy to afford greater access to spinal expressivity

• Investigate personal patterns in spinal actions explore practical student-centered activities to facilitate awareness and potential for discovering movement potential.

Day 2 Afternoon Session:
The relationship of Core Support & Breath

• Learn the relationship between to core support and global postural control

• Identify the muscular support for core strength

• Explore the role of the breathing mechanism

• Learn about current research in integrative anatomy around breath fasciae and core

• Investigate movement sequences to embody the FA concepts of core & breath

• Practice a pedagogical approach to integrate mental training into the dance classroom

• Develop Practices for self-care and dancer wellness

Day 3 Morning Session:
Tips for Hips & Pelvis

• Identify the skeletal considerations and differences of the pelvis and hip joint

• Learn the structural differences in humans and a practice to honor difference

• Discover movement potential & factors contributing to range of motion in the hip joint.

• Practice tactile, visual, and auditory cueing strategies to access neutral pelvic alignment through the FA approach to global postural control.

• Learn assessment and feedback language to honor individual differences in skeletal constructs to help students achieve their movement potential through efficient action

DAY 3 Afternoon Session:
The Knee, Ankle/Foot and Ligament Laxity/Hypermobility

• Identify the skeletal considerations of the knee joint

• Learn the structural differences in humans and a practice to honor difference to move towards the desired aesthetic in any specific dance form

• Discover factors contributing to range of motion in the knee and ankle foot

• Practice tactile, visual, and auditory cueing strategies to access integrity of the knee in action

• Learn assessment and feedback language to honor individual differences in skeletomuscular constructs to support students to achieve their movement potential through efficient action

• Learn current research on hypermobility and strategies for working with hypermobile dance

• Develop Practices for self-care and dancer wellness

DAY 4:
Expressivity and Stability of Arms Integrating Axial and Appendicular Action

• Examine skeletal and muscular considerations to support the shoulder joint and arm

• Explore embodied movement practices to enhance understanding of the arm in action

• Learn of movement science research on the relationship of the axial to appendicular skeleton

• Investigate the glenohumeral scapula rhythm and discern shoulder action from scapular action

• Practice tactile, visual, & auditory cueing to access axial integrity with appendicular expressivity

• Integrate cueing strategies to support and honor individual difference in muscular-skeletal constructs when training others to discover fullest movement potential while dancing

• Develop Practices for self-care and dancer wellness

REGISTER NOW