| Abstract |
Psychological Safety in the Western Concert Dance Technique Class focuses on dance educators in higher education redefining, modeling, and cultivating leadership through Timothy Clark’s Four Stages of Psychological Safety (2020). Western concert dance technique classes do not, traditionally, leave much room for contributions or challenges from students. Rather, “one right way” and perfectionism (Tema Okun) are emphasized, as students conform to expectations and aesthetics, or attempt to mold themselves into the example of the teacher. In this session, we articulate the values held in our classrooms and how it shifts our meaning of leadership. Using Clark’s structure, we provide examples to build a classroom that encourages risk-taking, creativity, and growth over perfectionism to build future leaders that use their power to listen, respond, and transform the field of dance. |
, Halie Bahr 
