AUGUSTA — The Maine Alliance For Arts Education, on behalf of Dance Education in Maine Schools has been awarded a $2,405 Professional Development Grant from the Maine Arts Commission. The funds are being used to plan and administer a statewide conference titled, Dance Futures: Exploring Dance in Maine Schools.

The primary goal is to anchor dance education in school curriculum by addressing: teacher certification in dance, implementation of the Maine Learning Results, and performance assessment in dance. This is the first such conference in recent history to address dance education exclusively.

Dr. Jane Bonbright from the National Dance Education Organization will give a national status report on dance education and facilitate discussion. Invited guests include representatives from the Maine Department of Education, K-12 and higher education, school administrators, school board members, state legislators, and dancers-choreographers-company directors from across the state. DEMS will have copies of their newly revised Maine Dance Curriculum Guide on hand.

The conference is being held in Augusta, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday, May 2, at the St. Paul Center, 136 State Str. Registration is $15 and includes breakfast and lunch. Attention to this event will help improve the quality of education in Maine.