Eleven schools and more than 250 students participated in Nebo District’s 5th annual Day of Dance on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The event celebrates the growing presence of dance in grades K-12 in the district, bringing together students from all levels of schools. There were two emphases of the event this year: provide students the chance to be a part of the creative process, not just memorize dance steps; learn from others, regardless of age or expertise.
Students were put into mixed-age groups with others they had never met before. They then created a dance together that was performed at the end of the event. Guiding the creative process were dance artists from Salt Lake City’s professional dance company, Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT). The professionals first lead the groups in movement activities that helped them get to know each other and develop a sense of community. They then talked to students about different ways they could use movement to represent the theme of the event, From Seed to Sky, focusing on growth and change. One of the dances used the ideas of a plant beginning as a seed and growing into a tall tree. Another was about the changes that occur in the Great Salt Lake. And another was about “leveling up” in video games like Mario.
The professional RDT dancers noted how the students shared their strengths with each other: “The younger students were brave and so willing to take chances in creating movement. The older students knew some dance terminology that they shared with the younger ones. They definitely learned from each other.”
The event demonstrated the value of creativity and collaboration with those who are different from you. Students walked away with new perspectives on dance, an appreciation for the creative process, and a sense of pride in what they accomplished together.
