Colorado Dance Education Organization

09/10/2026

It’s time! It’s YOUR time! Audition for Colorado All-State Dance Ensemble!
This year’s choreographer is the one and only Ashley Shute!

What is Colorado All-State Dance Ensemble?
Colorado All-State Dance Ensemble features top dance students from across the state.
Dancers are chosen through a video audition process.
​
Ideal All-State Dancers:
- have a strong work ethic, collaborative spirit, willingness to grow as an artist
- are associated with a CoDEO affiliated member school/studio
- exhibit engaging stage presence
- demonstrate a high level of technique
- have the ability to learn choreography quickly

Members of Colorado All-State Dance Ensemble will:
- work with a featured choreographer during the conference
- receive additional time to stage & learn their closing performance piece
- receive a complimentary All-State tee shirt
- be acknowledged during the conference kick-off​
​
Selected All-State members must be registered to attend the CoDEO Conference to participate.

Audition Info: https://www.co-deo.org/colorado-all-state-dance-ensemble
1. Learn a combination from our All-State choreographer - Ashley Shute
2. Record an incredible version of your audition where your whole body can be clearly seen & the audition music can be heard.
​3. Record a solo (30-90 seconds) in your preferred style which shows off what you can really do!
4. Fill out the audition application & upload your audition videos.
​​
Audition videos & application due October 16, 2026

Ashley Shute, born & raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado, began dancing at the age of six. Earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado State University in 2017 she has been dedicated to sharing & advancing the art of dance ever since.

Ashley serves as a community engagement dancer, dance instructor, company performer, & school director with Ormao Dance Company. She also teaches dance at Pikes Peak State College, where she works with students of all levels & continues to expand her own artistic & educational practice.

Passionate about fostering creativity & connection through movement, Ashley is committed to growing her impact within the Colorado Springs dance community & beyond.

09/04/2026

Submit your proposals for educator &/or student movement or lecture classes for the 13th Annual Colorado Dance Conference due by end-of-day, Monday, September 7.

All selected classes, movement or lecture, are compensated by the hour plus: complimentary 2-day admission to the conference for accepted presenters, and an opportunity to receive credit from University of Northern Colorado. Over 200 attendees include educators and students from Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and growing.

More info at www.co-deo.org!

Colorado Department of Education Visit Pueblo

09/01/2026

Dance Educator of the Year

YES!!! The 2026-2027 school year has begun — celebrate your dance teachers and nominate them for Dance Educator of the Year!!! Don’t delay!! Please submit your nominations promptly before the window closes.

The board will review all nominations and the chosen awardee will be recognized at the 13th Annual CoDEO Dance Conference during the conference events, January 16-17, 2027.

Learn more and submit your nominations at: https://www.co-deo.org/codeo-teacher-of-the-year

Recognizing excellence in Dance Education. Nominate an exceptional dance educator and tell us why they deserve to be recognized for their excellence in dance education.

Nominations can be for dance educators who are:
K-12
Studio
Independent
Higher Ed
Arts Advocates
Arts Administrators

Self-Nominations are accepted, but two letters of recommendation must be sent to Leslie Williams: [email protected] in addition to the initial nomination form.
​
Nominees may be contacted for additional information for a 2nd round of adjudication.

08/30/2026

08/16/2026

Need new ideas? Professional development? Inspiration?! Join CoDEO as a presenter, studio owner, student, educator, PT, dancer, choreographer, for a weekend of all things dance.

Upcoming event Sunday, August 23, 2:00-4:30 at the Anderson Academic Commons at University of Denver. The Dance Archive & CoDEO: Dance, Drinks & Dialogue - a free event for educators & enthusiasts for free dance resources that you can use in your classroom. Visit www.thedancearchive.org to RSVP.

The annual CoDEO Conference is coming up January 16-17, 2027, in Pueblo, Colorado. Submissions for Presenters and Dance Educator of the Year are open now! Visit www.co-deo.org

The CoDEO Dance Conference is open to dance educators, PE teachers, PTs, students, Grades 8-12 & university

Colorado Department of Education Visit Pueblo National Dance Education Organization - NDEO NHSDA - Dance Honor Society

07/23/2026

During this event you will:
- Meet the CoDEO and TDA board members
- Get updates on the missions and activities of both CoDEO and TDA
- Learn about TDA Curriculum - lesson plans and activities ready to go for your school or studio classroom!
- Learn some Mexican Folklorico Dance fundamentals from Jeanette Trujillo-Lucero!
- CoDEO Annual Conference opportunities for involvement
- Tour the Dance Archive collection
- Meet other dance educators and dance education advocates from around Colorado
- Walk away with things to use in your classroom right away
- Enjoy snacks and beverages in the beautiful Anderson Academic Commons at DU!

We want to hear your thoughts! What do you have to share with the dance education community?

RSVP today at www.thedancearchive.org

The Dance Archive UofDenver SpecColl & Archives Colorado Department of Education

06/11/2026

Mark your Calendar! Sunday, August 23, 2026, 2:00-4:30pm and join us at the Anderson Academic Commons at the University of Denver. RSVP will open soon or contact [email protected].

Join your peers for an afternoon of networking, fresh resources and takeaways that you can use in your classroom! Food, drink, swag and raffles to kick off your school year right! Tour the archive too!

From your friends at The Dance Archive and Colorado Dance Education Organization.

DU Library, Anderson Academic Commons address: 2150 E Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80208

Colorado Department of Education National Dance Education Organization - NDEO .ndeo

05/02/2026

Submissions are now open for the 2027 CoDEO 13th Annual Dance Education Conference for Educators and Students. Visit www.co-deo.org for more information.

January 15, 2027 Kick-off Dance Party followed by the weekend of dance education January 16-17, 2027 at the Pueblo, Colorado, Convention Center!

Presenter Submissions are due by August 31, 2026. Submissions for Performers, Dance Educator of the Year and Student Film Festival are DUE NOVEMBER 1, 2026

Presenter Applications are welcome for:
-Movement sessions in any dance style, for any or all levels
-Educator toolkits - ideas to take back to the classroom and use right now
-Improvisation and choreography
-College and career workshops
-Or: share what you are passionate about in the world of dance or dance education and want to share!
Sessions can be geared toward students grades 8-12, University Students, or Dance Educators.
All sessions are 60 minutes in length and include compensation.

Performers: Open to all attending schools, studios, and professional companies.
Submit a piece which showcases the best of your dancers to share with all conference attendees on Saturday evening January 16!
CoDEO Board will review all submissions and contact selected performers by December 20th.

All performing students must be registered for the conference. Professional performers (18yrs+) are invited to attend Saturday conference classes for free.

Dance Educator of the Year: Recognizing excellence in Dance Education
Categories for nominations include:
K-12 Teachers
Studio Teachers
Independent Artists and Teachers
Post-Secondary Educators
Arts Advocates
Arts Administrators​

CoDEO Student Film Festival:
Open to 8th grade, High School and University Students
What is a Dance Film?
In order to be considered for the Dance Film Festival a work must be:
1. defined by choreographic intention in dancing or movement
2. defined by camera work, cinematic form, and/or editing techniques
All submitting students must be registered for the conference. Selected films will be shown during Conference events.

02/10/2026

That’s right!! The dates are set for the 13th Annual Colorado Dance Education Organization Conference for Educators and Students (students Grades 8-12 and University) for January 16-17, 2027, with the Dance Party Kick-off Friday night, January 15!!!

Held at the Pueblo Convention Center that can comfortably serve the close to 300 attendees! Pueblo is a beautiful Colorado city including a Riverwalk, the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America right next door, a community skating rink, fabulous restaurants, architecture and history! So much more plus plenty of free parking by the convention center too!!

Our 2025 conference had students, teachers, educators, presenters & colleges from across Colorado, Wyoming and NEBRASKA!!!! We hope to see New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma represented at the 2026 conference!

Keep posted here, Facebook and our webpage for submission dates for Presenters, Performers, Dance Educator of the Year, Student Film Festival, and Colorado All-State Dance Ensemble! www.co-deo.org

Did you love what CoDEO brings to Colorado and the midwest and would like to support our mission through our sponsor program? More information at: www.co-deo.org/sponsors

Forgot to buy CoDEO swag? Check out our in our header

.dance
#

01/28/2026

National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) is a nationally recognized honor society that acknowledges dance students for their artistic merit, leadership and academic achievements.

There are three NHSDA programs:
Junior Program - Grades 6-8
Secondary Program - Grades 9-12
Collegiate Program

There are 45 active NHSDA chapters from Junior to Collegiate in the state of Colorado!

NHSDA Mission:
To recognize outstanding artistic merit, leadership, and academic achievement in students studying dance in public and private schools in K-12 education, dance studios, cultural/community centers, performing arts organizations, and post-secondary education.
To foster an appreciation for dance as a true art form and one worthy of recognition and prestige.

Check out www.ndeo.org/nhsda/ and click through all the hotspots to learn about all the NHSDA opportunities, resources and how to set up a chapter!!!

Check out Dance Arts Now! The official newsletter of the NHSDA Junior & Secondary Programs The publication gives student inductees and their chapter sponsors a chance to be published and recognized!

An ANNUAL Scholarship Opportunity! Dance students who have been inducted into the NHSDA Secondary Program and are current juniors & seniors in High School are eligible for the NHSDA Artistic Merit, Leadership and Academic Achievement Award and Scholarship, the highest student dance award in the nation. The National Winner of this dance scholarship will receive up to a $1,000 monetary award/scholarship & a certificate. The 3 National Finalists will each receive a $250 monetary award/scholarship & a certificate. Honorable Mention Recipients will receive a certificate.

CoDEO wants to support the Colorado NHSDA Chapters! Send us updates with your program for promoting your achievements! Send info or questions to [email protected] or through DM on IG or FB.

.dance nhsda .nhsda