Mila Parrish
Education
PhD, The Ohio State University
MA, Dance Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
BFA, Choreography and Performance, University of Michigan
K–12 Teacher Certification, University of Michigan
Biography
Dr. Mila Parrish is a Professor and Director of Dance Education at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. She directs the Master of Arts in Dance Education (MADE) program and the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC) in Dance Education, creating an accessible pathway for working dance educators to earn K–12 teacher licensure. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in dance pedagogy, technology, curriculum and assessment, and Pilates. She also directs UNCG’s Pilates program and leads professional certification coursework in Movement Principles, Mat, and Reformer.
Dr. Parrish is nationally and internationally recognized for her work in dance pedagogy, educational technology, curriculum design, teacher preparation, and interdisciplinary instruction. Her scholarship explores how movement, technology, creative inquiry, and reflective practice can expand access to meaningful dance education. Before entering higher education, she worked as a professional dancer and choreographer in New York City and toured nationally with the Jean Erdman Theater of Dance.
Awards, Recognitions, and Credentials
- Outstanding Dance Educator Award–Higher Education, National Dance Education Organization
- Provost Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Activity Award, University of North Carolina Greensboro
- Outstanding Leadership Award, National Dance Education Organization
- Chancellor’s Award, University of North Carolina Greensboro, for Dancers Connect community initiatives
- Advisor of the Year Award, University of South Carolina
- South Carolina State Dance Advocacy Award
- Excellence in Dance Education Award, Arizona Dance Education Organization
- Faculty and Master Teacher, Balanced Body®; Balanced Body® Master Teacher Certification in Pilates Mat, Reformer, Movement Principles, Cadillac, Tower, Chair, and Ladder Barrel
- Certified Movement Analyst, Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies
- Founding President and current Past President, North Carolina Dance Education Organization
- Former Director of Research, National Dance Education Organization
Subjects Taught
- Dance pedagogy and teaching methods
- Dance education curriculum and assessment
- Laban Movement Analysis
- Pilates teacher preparation and professional certification
- Dance education leadership and professional practice
- K–12 dance education and teacher licensure PBC
- Dance Technology
- Graduate research, thesis, and culminating-project development
- Community-engaged and interdisciplinary dance education
Scholarly Creative/Research Activity
Key Areas
- Dance pedagogy and teacher preparation
- Educational technology and online dance instruction
- Curriculum design and assessment
- Laban Movement Analysis and Motif Writing
- Movement cognition and embodied learning
- Pilates education and somatic practice
- Community-engaged and service-learning practices
- Interdisciplinary dance education
- Digital documentation and videoconferenced dance instruction
Scholarship
Dr. Parrish’s scholarship examines dance pedagogy, educational technology, curriculum design, movement cognition, teacher preparation, and community-engaged learning. She is co-author, with Katrina Brown Aliffi, of Dance Education edTPA Online Preparation Guide, published by Human Kinetics. She is currently developing Technology for Dance Educators with Emily Enloe and Jennifer Coffey. The book explores the thoughtful and creative integration of technology into dance teaching, learning, research, and professional practice.
Her recent collaborative research includes “Effects of a Hip-Hop Dance Intervention on Psychological and Cognitive Measures for Adolescent Females,” published in Research in Dance Education. Her scholarship also includes research on digital tools for online dance pedagogy, videoconferencing in K–12 dance education, problem-based learning, community-building through dance, Motif Writing, and interactive multimedia. Her work has appeared in Research in Dance Education, Arts Education Policy Review, the Journal of Dance Education, Journal for Learning through the Arts, Dance: Current Selected Research, and the International Handbook of Research in Arts Education.
Creative and Professional Activity
Dr. Parrish’s creative and professional activity spans performance, choreography, curriculum development, teacher preparation, professional certification, and community engagement. As Director of Pilates at UNCG and a Balanced Body® Faculty and Master Teacher, she developed UNCG’s Pilates certification program and leads professional preparation in Movement Principles, Mat, and Reformer. She also directs Pop-Up Pilates, an applied teaching initiative through which students gain supervised professional experience.
Her long-term community-engagement work includes Dancers Connect, iDance Arizona, iDance South Carolina, Interactive Gateway, ArtsBridge America, and Embodied History reconstruction projects. These initiatives have used live instruction, videoconferencing, digital media, interdisciplinary curricula, and community partnerships to expand access to dance education.
Dr. Parrish has created numerous curricular and multimedia resources, including Interactive Gateway Dance, Discover Dance, Dancers Connect Extensions, interdisciplinary dance education modules, and a series of Dance Literacy Games. She has also curated and directed professional development programs including Hip Hop for Hope, Jazz It Up, Evolving Dance Through Connectivity, Mindful Dancing, Summer Somatics, and Movement of Inspired Minds.