Abstract:
In the summer of 1996 the 1st Annual DanceAbility Teacher Training was offered
by Alito Alessi in Eugene, Oregon. In the past 13 years 265 people have completed the
teacher training and are certified instructors of the DanceAbility Method. This study
sought to assess the influence of the DanceAbility Method by using a self-report
questionnaire to obtain and analyze demographic data and information about the mixed-abilities
teaching and choreography of DanceAbility Teachers post-certification. All
certified teachers with contact information available (207) were sent the questionnaire.
The 61 Certified DanceAbility Teachers who returned completed questionnaires were
from 17 countries; the largest percentage of respondents (46%) were Europeans, followed
by Americans (23%). Seventy-five percent of all respondents report teaching the DanceAbility Method, and 54% report choreographing mixed-abilities dance work since
completing the certification. A significant by-product of this study is the beginning of a
directory of Certified DanceAbility Teachers.
This thesis includes unpublished co-authored material.