SUSAN GADDY POPE

Susan is a retired elementary school dance educator with over 30 years of experience in K-12 schools in Newark, NJ, and the New York City Department of Education. As an adjunct professor and coordinator of the BA program at Montclair State University, Susan works with BFA and BA students, helping them create creative movement lessons for children. 

Susan is a doctoral candidate in the Dance Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research on Embodied pedagogy as an indigenous practice and the use of storytelling in research pushes back against the dominant way of knowing by recognizing the body’s capacity to impact student learning. As a published author, Susan has contributed to the depth of knowledge in dance education through journals and books. 

Susan leads workshops for dance educators and classroom teachers on creative movement, hip-hop education, and culturally relevant practices and consults through her non-profit organization, I Dance Because. She is a frequent presenter for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center Community (NJPAC) Engagement Program, providing community workshops, and serves on the NJPAC dance advisory council. Susan has a teacher’s heart and believes all teaching spaces should be filled with love, joy, and embodiment.