Kathryn Austin, Jesse Katen, and Misty Lown

Cory-Jeanne Houck-Cox, Julie Pentz, and Mary Roberts

Success at Innovating and Transitioning. Dancers do know how to transition! This panel of NDEO members will share their successes with protocols that have kept their studio doors “Open for Business”. A myriad of combined protocols for dance spaces from different regions, states, counties, and countries will be discussed. A question and answer session will follow the presentations. Dance educators teaching in any environment or sector are welcome and encouraged to come with their questions.

Dr. Kathryn Austin is a dance educator with 40 years experience currently working full time teaching dance in the public schools and owning, directing and teaching at her private studio of 30 years. Austin is active in the training and coaching of traditional Scottish Highland Dance and has to her credit several Champions and national contenders. Working daily in the K-12 and Private Studio setting gives Austin a unique perspective with which to approach the nuances of online delivery of dance studies and how best practices are applied in each unique setting. Austin is hands-on at every level and age of the learner population and makes daily parallels between her teaching environments in cross-referencing curriculum and delivery.

Jesse Katen is the owner of The Jesse Katen School of Dance in Windsor, New York, now in its seventeenth season. Having judged more than eighty dance competitions across dozens of states, he was awarded the Outstanding Dance Judge Award by the Association of Dance Conventions and Competitions at their gala in Las Vegas in 2016. Jesse also teaches in the English Department and Honors Program at SUNY Broome in Binghamton, New York. His research interests focus on the intersection of writing and dance pedagogies. He received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2019. He also serves on the MLA’s National Committee on Community Colleges. He is also committed to community service, serving on the boards of six nonprofits and philanthropic foundations. Jesse has articles forthcoming in Dance Education in Practice and the Journal of Dance Education. He serves on the editorial board of Dance Education in Practice. 

Misty Lown is the founder, president, and energized force behind More Than Just Great Dancing® - A licensed dance studio affiliation program that has a positive impact on over 100,000 dance students around the globe each week. She is also the owner of Youth Protection Advocates in Dance - an educational company. Her dance studio, Misty’s Dance Unlimited, founded in 1998 and named a “Top 50 Studios in the Nation” by Dance Spirit Magazine has provided $500,000 in scholarship for dancers. Misty has been a speaker for every major dance industry event and has authored over 100 industry articles. She is a sought after speaker and business leader. She has been recognized as “Teacher of the Year” by Eclipse, “Outstanding Businesswoman of the Year” by the YWCA and awarded the “Pope John XXIII Award for Distinguished Service” by Viterbo University, the “Philanthropy Award” from the local Red Cross, the “President’s Award” from the La Crosse Area Development Corporation and the “President’s Award” from the Association of Professional Fundraisers. Misty is an entrepreneur and builder at heart. In addition to her dance studio and licensing program, she owns a dancewear store, self-storage business and is a managing partner in a family real estate business. She is the author of One Small Yes an Amazon #1 Bestseller that has been translated to Korean and Indonesian. Misty’s favorite part of the day is spending time with her husband and five beautiful children.

Cory-Jeanne Murakami Houck-Cox, BA, retired prima ballerina is an ABT® Affiliate Certified Teacher Levels Primary-5 ABT NTC. A Master Teacher & Coach, choreographer, she is certified in PBT & FLX. She is Treasurer for NDEO. She adjudicates & is Director of Events for ICON Dance & NexStar National Dance Competition. Her pieces have been awarded & invited to Finals of the NYC YAGP. She participated in Sundance Choreographer’s Lab and is an Aspen Institute Scholar Fellow. In 1997 she performed at the Presidential Inaugural Gala Balls. She co-created “Winter War” & “Proud Heritage”, Irvine Foundation and NEA recipients, which were presented at the Kennedy Center. Her former students have careers in ballet, contemporary & modern companies, Broadway, arts administration and advocacy.

Julie L. Pentz is a Professor of Dance, Kansas State University with a BFA in Dance Education, Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA and an MFA in Theatre Arts, University of Arizona, in Tucson, AZ. Julie's dance contributions have traveled in the international dance community in Italy, Spain, Taiwan, Africa, and Kuwait. Julie has been teaching at Kansas State University for 17 years and is a full professor of dance teaching jazz and tap dance She is the Recording Secretary for NDEO, a Global Goodwill Ambassador and Human Peace Ambassador, representing the United States of America. Julie also teaches in the independent sector for dance studios and serves as a national judge for dance competitions.  

Mary Roberts, MFA, is a choreographer and director, previously employed by Norwegian Creative Studios and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, creating and installing high-end events and productions. As a dance educator, Mary presents at universities, conferences, and festivals. Mary is a passionate advocate for the emerging dance professional, and has joined The Bridge Dance Project to help connect local dance studios with professionals who can help provide positive models of conditioning and performance techniques. As a member of NDEO's Private Sector Committee, Mary helps expand a sense of the American dance ecosystem, a system which can only thrive through validating and acknowledging the contributions of all those involved in dance education.