Considering Gender Diversity and Inclusion in Dance Spaces
This session is for dance educators who are interested in examining gender norms in dance and exploring policies and classroom practices that can make for more inclusive and supportive spaces for dancers of all genders.
In this session we will discuss inclusive language, key concepts, and practical ways to consider the needs of girls, boys, trans, non-binary and gender diverse dancers in a studio setting.
Duration: 1 hour
Date: Sunday February 13, 2022
Time: 3pm Atlantic
Bio:
Erin Cusack is a CDTA Licentiate in Ballet, Jazz, and Tap and an Associate in Acrobatics and Modern and currently serves as the Vice President of CDTA Atlantic Branch. After graduating from the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts Dance Teacher Training Program, Erin continued her studies at Dalhousie University, earning a BSc. (Honours) in Health Promotion Policy and Research followed by a Master’s degree in the Social Dimension of Health from the University of Victoria. Erin’s studies, research, and work have focused on how gender norms and colonization impact health and social outcomes for women and people of all genders, 2SLGBTTIAQ+ folks, and Indigenous populations.
Erin has been teaching dance for 23 years and has taught dance coast to coast in Canada and now resides in Prince Edward Island. Erin currently works as a Gender and Diversity Policy Analyst to support the government of PEI to apply Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) in legislation, policy, programs, and operations. GBA+ is an analytical process used to assess how men, women, gender diverse people, and other diverse groups (age, racialized groups, ethnicity, income levels etc.) may experience policies, programs and initiatives differently.