Our Team

Arnhold Professor of Practice, Dr. Bashaw examines the intersection of artistic and cognitive development within dance learning contexts as well as histories and issues embedded within university dance teacher education. With a commitment to advancing equity and access to dance education and challenging historical prejudices in the field, Dr. Bashaw’s scholarship continues to be informed by children as young artists and an appreciation for their lively and profound worldviews. Actively involved in public scholarship, Bashaw has served on national and NEA funded projects including the NCAS National Dance Standards writing team, the NDEO Dance Entry Level Teacher Assessment, and the NYCDOE Blueprint for Dance advisory committee, amongst other projects. Read more about Dr. Bashaw here: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/faculty/bjb24/

Arnhold Professor, Dr. Henley focuses his research on describing cognitive and social-emotional skills associated with dance education. He takes a phenomenological approach, analyzing how dancers in diverse communities describe the experience of learning concepts in the dance classroom. Henley's related interests include enactive cognition in the arts, developmental and neuroscientific approaches to embodied knowing, research methods for pedagogy, and the pedagogy of research methods. Henley danced professionally in NYC with Sean Curran Company and Randy James Dance Works.

Henley earned his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology: Learning Sciences from the University of Washington, and an M.F.A. in Dance from the same institution. He has been an Associate Professor of Dance at Texas Woman's University, where he coordinated the B.A program and teaches in the M.F.A. and Ph.D. programs.

Edward C. Warburton, EdD, is a Professor of Dance and Interim Dean, Division of the Arts, University of California at Santa Cruz. He received early dance training at the North Carolina School of the Arts and danced professionally with American Ballet Theater II, Houston Ballet, and Boston Ballet. His interdisciplinary interests in dance cognition and creativity began when studying for his doctorate in human development and psychology at Harvard University.

Over the course of his career, he has performed in over 40 choreographic works (600+ performances), published 60 scholarly papers, co-authored two monographs and one book, co-edited an anthology, edited two journal special issues, and created, directed and/or produced 11 works for live theater.

Warburton’s empirical research investigates the relational practices and cognitive processes that enhance (or undermine) the doing, making and watching dance. His writings appear in articles, book chapters, and reviews that are widely disseminated and highly cited. Warburton’s creative work employs digital media and network technologies in live performance. These artworks have been shown in national and international venues, reviewed by major news outlets, like the New York Times and The New Yorker, and discussed in national interviews. He has been supported by grants from the Banks Family Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, National Endowment of the Arts, National Science Foundation, University of California Institute for Research in the Arts, ZERO1 Biennial, among others.

Warburton has served as Interim Dean of the Arts, Associate Dean of the Arts, and Director of the Art Research Institute at UCSC. He has also served the field as Director of Research for the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), President of the California Dance Education Association, and Associate Editor of the Research in Dance Education journal. He is a recipient of the Jacob Pillow’s Dance Research Fellowship (2007), UCSC’s Excellence in Research (2012) award, and both NDEO’s Emerging Leader (2003) and Outstanding Researcher (2016) awards. In 2017, he was named the Sachs Distinguished Lecturer at Teachers College, Columbia University. In 2019, he became the inaugural Senior Fellow at the Arnhold Institute for Dance Education Research, Policy, and Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Dr. Young Moon invited first professor with the establishment of the dance major of Kookmin University, Korea in 1999. She systematically conducted research and performances in the field of dance arts to propose integrated cultural and arts education models. Based on genre-integrated characteristics and interdisciplinary research, she planned and produced about 30 pieces of performance contents, published about 40 academic papers and participated in writing about 10 volumes of books. In particular, as a responsible professor of the department of performing arts the main projects of the Ministry of Education in Korea she contributed to the advancement of university arts education. In addition, as a responsible researcher of the University and Graduate School Convergence Talent Nurturing Project of Korea Creative Content Agency and as the Head of Culture/Arts Education Donation Consulting at The Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity, she proceeded field research like the research and development of various culture/arts education programs. As part of Leaders in INdustry-university Cooperation+ and leading university fostering project (LINC and LINC+), she developed dance education contents as well as research projects in connection with the local community. With her multidisciplinary convergence research performances recognized, she received the Best Paper Award from The Korean Society of Dance, the Best Paper Award from the Korea Dance Education Society, and the Academic Award from The Korean Society Of Dance Science, etc. 

With “Social contribution of art” as the core vision, she continues the research and educational activities related to arts and culture education to apply research to the education field and create organic synergy. Especially, by improving the cooperation of the local community, she contributed to promoting cultural enjoyment and expanding the cultural and artistic base of the local community. Recently, as a responsible researcher of the Weekend Art Campus, ‘Move, Movie Project’ and ‘Doing, Doing Art Lab’ sponsored by Korea Art & Culture Education Service and ‘Content Creative Experience School’ and ‘Art x Tech Creative School’ sponsored by Korea Creative Content Agency. In addition to innovation in major education, completing the paradigm for innovative liberal education through dance (Dance Literacy, Picking up Dance Performances, Expressing through the Body, Reading Culture through Dance, and Ballet and Science, etc.) in liberal arts education of University. She received Outstanding Professor of Industry-Academic Award from the Minister of Education in Korea and a Special Award in Dance Education from The Korean Association of Dance Critics. 

Active as the Artistic Director of Industry-Academic Cooperation Performance, the Director of Composite Art Research Center, The President of The Korean Society of Dance, Vice President of World Dance Alliance-Korea Branch, her administrative competency is recognized internally and externally. In addition, till now, she had built networks with various researchers and industry-university institutions by concluding agreements and making substantial international exchanges with leading domestic and foreign universities and cultural and artistic institutions(the US, the UK, Russia, China, Japan, Malaysia, etc.).

Lynnette Young Overby, Ph.D., a graduate of Hampton University (BS), George Washington University (MA) and The University of Maryland, College Park, (Ph.D.) is the University of Delaware Director of The Community Engagement Initiative and Founding Director of the Partnership for Arts & Culture. She also directs the dance program and is the Artistic Director of the Sharing our Legacy Dance Theatre. Her publications include The Journal of Dance Education, The Journal of Mental Imagery and co-editor of nine volumes of Dance: Current Selected Research. Leadership roles in Dance Education have included service as President of the National Dance Association, President of the Michigan Dance Council, and President of the Delaware Dance Education Organization. Overby received the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Dance Education Organization and in 2020, served on the Biden/Harris Agency Review Team in the area of Arts and Humanities. 

Dr. Overby's book, Interdisciplinary Learning Through Dance, is available as a digital copy via the TC Library. Her book, Public scholarship in dance: teaching, choreography, research, service, and assessment for community engagement, is available in hard copy format from the Columbia University Library. You can search her other publications and articles via the TC Gottesman Library EDUCAT search engine.

Dale Schmid, Ed.D. is an independent consultant and researcher, and former Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator for the New Jersey Department of Education (1999 to 2021). A recognized authority on student learning standards, standards-based assessment, programmatic evaluation, and educational policy, Dr. Schmid is the co-facilitator and co-chair of governance for the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards and senior advisor to the Dance Entry Level Teacher Assessment initiative; a national endeavor to codify dance teacher preparation through data collection and consensus-building. Additionally, he is a member of the senior advisory boards of The Center for Arts Education and Social Emotional Learning, and the Joy 2 Learn Foundation as well as a member of the Technical Working Group for the NEA Research Lab at the University of Wisconsin. He is also the co-lead representing National Dance Education Organization’s efforts as part of the Connected Arts Network (CAN) grant; a five-year National Endowment for the Arts sponsored initiative to create nationwide virtual Professional Learning Communities with educators in visual arts music, theatre, dance, and media arts. The overarching vision of CAN is to build a sustainable model of professional development for arts educators to strengthen their pedagogy, instruction, and leadership skills to better serve students. Furthermore, he is a longstanding member of the National Arts Education Policy Working Group, facilitated by the Americans for the Arts & the League of American Orchestras; and serves on the Arts Education Partnership Advisory Panel, operated under the aegis of the Education Commission on the States, since 2015.

Dr. Schmid is a former President and three-term Past-President of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), as well as the current Past President of the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education. Other former leadership roles include the Executive Steering Committees of the Arts Education Partnership; Arts Ed NJ, the States Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards (operating under the aegis of the Council of Chief State School Officers), and the NJN Public Broadcasting Authority, among others. As one of approximately 55 state arts education directors throughout the nation, he helped shape state and national standards-based arts education policy and practice for 22 years. He is a contributing author to the 2015 National Core Arts Standards; the NDEO’s Standards for Learning and Teaching Dance in the Arts: Ages 5-18 in 2005 & 2011; co-author of NDEO’s Professional Teaching Standards for Dance in Arts Education (2005 & 2011), and Standards for a K-12 Model Program: Opportunities to Learn in Dance Arts Education; as well as the College Board’s, Pre-AP Arts Curriculum. Dr. Schmid also oversaw the review and revision of every set of New Jersey K-12 Core Curriculum Content Standards since their inception and is a sought-after public speaker. 

Schmid holds a Doctorate in Educational and Organizational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania with a dissertation in the field of psychometrics; a Master’s Degree in Dance Education from Temple University; and undergraduate degrees in Speech and Theatre, and Health & Physical Education from Bemidji State University. Early in his career, he spent close to two decades on the regional and national touring circuit as a dancer, actor, choreographer, director, and teaching artist and was fortunate to have studied with Modern Dance Pioneers Hanya Holm, Isa Bergsohn, Erik Hawkins, Nancy Hauser, and many others. Subsequently, he taught dance and theatre at the high school and collegiate levels and is an aspiring jazz percussionist

Rachel Swenson is a licensed Idaho K-8 teacher serving as a dance teaching artist for Idaho Commission on the Arts and the Utah Arts Council as well as a dance specialist at Idaho Fine Arts Academy, a grades 6-12 public arts school of choice in West Ada School District. She teaches both the art-of-dance and as well as how to incorporate dance as an integrative learning tool through project-based choreography with students that focuses on connections to dance history, current events, life skills, environmental issues, as well as social issues. Swenson is the co-director/co-founder of the Idaho Screendance Festival. She has performed professionally in various venues in Utah and was a guest performer for Ririe Woodbury Dance Company. She has also performed for choreographer Meghan Durham Wall for the Paradigm Dance Project, and for Jim Moreno's Proving Ground Dance Company. Performing the works of Hanya Holm and Alwin Nikolais have been highlights of her professional experience. Throughout her career, Swenson has worked in many K-12 schools in Utah and Idaho, including as an Art Works for Kids teaching artist at Knowlton Elementary and William Penn Elementary schools in Utah; as a visual arts teacher at Christine Donnell School of the Arts in Idaho; and as a creative dance teacher for the Virginia Tanner Dance Arts in Education program at University of Utah. Swenson has extensive experience providing professional development for educators, including Idaho’s Arts Powered Schools, West Ada School District, BYU Arts Partnerships, Utah Valley University, EduFest, the Utah State Office of Education, Dance and the Child International, Utah Arts Council’s Arts Networking Conferences, Artworks for Kids, Tanner Dance Program, Idaho Dance Education Organization, and the National Dance Education Organization. She has been awarded over fifteen grants for dance education from Idaho Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Jeker Foundation, the Inukai Family Foundation, and VSA Idaho and is the recipient of the 2019 Teacher of the Year for Idaho Fine Arts Academy and the 2017 NDEO Executive Director's Award for Outstanding Advocacy. In her commitment to advocating for equality in arts education in public and private schools, Swenson has been active in establishing and serving state and national organizations. She is the founding President and current Development Director of the Idaho Dance Education Organization and is the West Region Representative for the National Dance Education Organization, where she was also a contributing committee member for the NDEO “Priorities Pamphlet.” Swenson has also served on multiple committees for the State Board of Education and West Ada School District for arts education standards revisions and arts education textbook adoptions. Swenson earned a B.F.A. in Modern Dance and an M.Ed. in Education from the University of Utah. Swenson intends to pursue an Interdisciplinary specialization as a doctoral student within the Ed.D. Dance Education Program at Teachers College. Her research interests include cognitive processes in creativity, cultivating creativity, cultural hierarchy of arts education, dance literacy, and improving arts education leadership.