LMU Dance Students Completed 2026 Arnhold Summer Fellowship at 92NY Dance Education Laboratory

LMU Dance majors Kaylin Moore '27 and Emma Shane '28 spent three weeks in New York City this summer as 2026 Arnhold Summer Fellows at the 92NY Dance Education Laboratory (DEL), joining a national cohort of dance educators, performers, and students for immersive professional development.

"My biggest takeaway was learning how to make dance education more creative, inclusive, and student-centered," says Moore.

The fellowship opportunity is part of a long-standing partnership between LMU Dance and the Dance Education Laboratory, established in 2019 by Taryn Vander Hoop, associate professor and department chair. Through the partnership, LMU has received scholarship support each year for up to two students to attend the nationally recognized summer program.

The Dance Education Laboratory at New York's 92nd Street Y is known for preparing dance educators through innovative approaches to teaching, curriculum development, choreography, and community engagement. During the intensive, Moore and Shane participated in workshops, movement experiences, collaborative projects, and discussions designed to deepen their understanding of dance education and its impact on diverse communities.

The intensive's first week centered on teaching, improvisation, and choreography, while the second explored childhood education. In the third week, students examined dance history and participated in guest technique classes led by artists from the Limón, Bombazo, and Martha Graham dance companies.

"As a neurodivergent dancer, the tools I learned in [the second] session taught me how I can be a teacher and mentor to the next generation by being the teacher I wish I had when I was younger, especially as the tools focused on making dance accessible to all types of learners," says Shane, who is in pursuit of becoming a professional dancer and choreographer, while also mentoring neurodivergent dancers.

"Professional development experiences like DEL allow students to think about dance in new ways," Vander Hoop says. "They return with expanded perspectives on teaching, creativity, leadership, and the role of dance in education."

For Moore and Shane, the fellowship offered an opportunity to represent LMU on a national stage while building relationships with artists and educators from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds. The experience also provided valuable insight into potential career paths in dance education, arts advocacy, and community engagement.

"The fellowship introduced me to the DEL Dance Framework and showed me how inquiry and exploration can help students build confidence and express themselves. Especially with the idea of using movement sentences, because it gives students a structure while still allowing them to make choices and express themselves creatively," says Moore.

The impact of the program has been felt by previous LMU participants as well. In 2025, Jessie Hernandez attended the DEL Summer Intensive through the same scholarship program. Following that experience, Hernandez relocated to New York City and now works at the 92nd Street Y, demonstrating the lasting professional connections fostered through the fellowship.

Moore and Shane's selection as 2026 Arnhold Summer Fellows continues LMU Dance's strong tradition of student participation in nationally recognized professional development programs. Their achievements reflect the department's commitment to preparing students not only as artists and performers, but also as future educators and leaders in the field.