Youth Leadership Calendar 2024
Our theme this year is "The Physicality of Leadership." We welcome new cohort members each spring and invite those in grades 6 to 12 with a Member Sponsor (your teacher must be a member of daCi as an individual, retiree, small group or institution).
It is as simple as LOGGING ON ONCE A MONTH, LEARNING, AND GROWING THROUGH COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP! All skills development activities, lectures, and guest speakers will address broad-spectrum applications of leadership skills. This is a fantastic opportunity to serve your broader dance community and network and plant seeds for future leadership goals in the field of dance.
A large focus of this year's work will be centered around leadership opportunities at the gathering at Towson University (Maryland) in 2026. However, all youth affiliated with a daCi USA member are welcome to participate regardless of their ability to attend the Gathering.
The first workshop will be via Zoom on Saturday, February 15th from 7 to 9 p.m. EST. We meet on the third or fourth Saturday of each month February through October.
Cultivating and Exercising Leadership Skills
The daCi USA Youth Leadership Training Program is a series of monthly workshops providing mentorship and opportunities for young people to cultivate and exercise leadership skills. daCi Youth Leaders will also have a voice in the daCi Newsletter, opportunities to assist with the annual daCi USA Gathering, and will present at conferences.
We advocate for and value youth. The youth have insights that are fresh and real, and we are committed to providing a platform for young people to learn, grow, develop their talents, and effectively lead in both their communities and the nation.
The daCi USA Youth Leadership Program has several goals.
- Equip participants with skills and qualities needed for leadership by guiding them in self-reflective activities, interactive discussion with adults and peers, and platforms on and through which to practice the act of leading.
- Engage in cross-cultural leadership by accessing resources and application of the concepts of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the young voice of future leaders.
- Enact leadership skills and qualities through the development of presentations and workshops for the daCi USA Days of Dance
Monthly Workshops
We meet on the third Thursday of every month, February through October.
Mentoring by Professionals in the Field
Members of the daCi USA Board facilitate the program and invite guest presenters.
Opportunities to Practice Leadership
Youth participants lead workshops and presentations.
Guest Presenters
Participants in the Youth Leadership Program hear from and interact with notable leaders in the field of dance and dance education. Past daCi USA Chairs such as Anne Green Gilbert, Marilyn Berrett, and Chris Roberts shared presentations with the 2021 cohort. Check out our YouTube channel to see some of their recorded sessions.
Youth Presentations
Participants in the Youth Leadership Program present for each other and members of the daCi USA organization. They prepare workshops and presentations for the daCi USA Day(s) of Dance. Click the button below to see last years presentation by the high school and college cohort.