From Stage to Summit: Reflections from the 2025 NDEO National Conference

From Stage to Summit: Reflections from the 2025 NDEO National Conference

By Tamara Irving, Founder of TMI Design & Consulting

An Unforgettable Gathering of Movement and Meaning
Each year, the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) Conference brings together educators, artists, scholars, and leaders who believe in one truth: dance transforms lives.
This year’s theme, Empowering Excellence in Dance Education, came alive in every conversation, classroom, and collaboration and I’m still carrying the energy home.

Stories in Motion: Finding Power in Shared Movement
This year, I presented my session Stories in Motion, where movement and storytelling met to explore identity, community, and connection.
We danced. We reflected. We shared stories that reminded us how art and education intertwine.
The biggest lesson?
Our stories are choreography, they reveal how we move through the world, and how the world moves through us.
Seeing educators embody their own narratives affirmed what I’ve always known: dance education is both art and activism.

A Moment of Gratitude
Receiving the Outstanding Leadership in K–12 Dance Education Award was an unexpected and deeply humbling moment.
I’ve spent years creating resources, coaching programs, and professional learning experiences for dance teachers because our field deserves spaces that honor both artistry and humanity.
Leadership isn’t about perfection, it’s about persistence, service, and vision.
It’s about lifting others as we rise.

 Three Takeaways for Dance Educators and Creative Leaders
1. Community Is Currency
The most valuable resource we have is each other.
Whether it’s a hallway conversation, a panel discussion, or a quick chat between sessions collaboration fuels sustainability.
Don’t go it alone. Find your circle and pour into it.

2. Creativity Needs Structure
We often tell students to “trust the process,” but educators need systems that support their creativity, too.
That’s why I built spaces like the Growing Dance Educator Membership and Dance Educator Exchange where structure meets inspiration.

3. Wellness Is Professional Practice
As I shared through MotionWorks, our wellness directly impacts how we teach and lead.
Five minutes of mindful movement isn’t luxury, it’s longevity.
Image idea: Group wellness or quiet reflection photo.

Keep the Inspiration in Motion

Leaving NDEO reminded me that we move farther when we move together.
If you’re ready to keep growing, learning, and connecting here are a few ways to join me:

We move farther when we move together

Thank you to everyone who attended, supported, and celebrated this moment with me.
Here’s to the next leap. one grounded in purpose, powered by creativity, and sustained by community.