In 2021, Karen Castleman completed the NW Arkansas Dance Ecosystem Development Project with support from the Walton Family Foundation. The goal of the project was to develop models for the creation of a new program/organization whose mission is to promote whole-person and community health through dance & movement.
The study involved our key components to year long research spearheaded by Castleman.
Local dance and wellness stakeholder focus groups
Interviews with National Leaders from around the country in the dance field to inform best practices and suggest models
Survey: create and disseminate a survey among local dance/movement makers, residents, and healthcare providers.
Pilot demonstration project that tests suggestions from the other research components
View the results of the NWA Dance Ecosystem Development Survey here.