Julie Pentz

Julie L. Pentz is a Professor of Dance at Kansas State University and a nationally and internationally recognized leader in dance education, research, and community engagement. With more than two decades of experience in higher education, she teaches jazz and tap dance, directs the K-State Tap Dance Ensemble, and mentors students across artistic, pedagogical, and research-based practices. She currently serves as President of the National Dance Education Organization (2025-2026), following prior service as President Elect, Recording Secretary and Student Advisory Director. Pentz's contributions to the dance field extend across the globe. She has been invited to teach, perform, and collaborate internationally in Italy, Taiwan, Spain, Ghana, Kuwait, and beyond, engaging with artists and institutions across diverse cultural contexts. Her professional performance background includes work with The National Tap Ensemble, and she has trained with and been influenced by master artists such as Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, and Brenda Buffalino. In recognition of her global impact through the arts, she has been named a Global Goodwill Ambassador and Human Peace Ambassador, representing the United States. As a scholar, Pentz's research centers on physical literacy, family engagement, and the role of movement in fostering human connection and well-being. She is the founder and director of Tap To Togetherness Across Populations, a nonprofit initiative that uses tap dance as a vehicle to connect individuals across age, ability, and background. Through this work, she collaborates with K12 schools, Parents as Teachers programs, senior populations, and community organizations to create inclusive, research-informed dance experiences. This initiative has been recognized as a signature community engagement partnership in Kansas State University's Carnegie Classification efforts. Pentz is a prolific author and researcher, with numerous peer-reviewed publications in leading journals such as the Journal of Dance Education, Dance Education in Practice, and Arts Education Policy Review. She is the author of the textbook Dance Appreciation (Human Kinetics) and has contributed to multiple volumes with Cambridge Scholars Publishing, including Diverse Learning in 2020 and Beyond. Her recent and forthcoming work continues to expand the field's understanding of metacognition, physical literacy, and inclusive dance practices, including publications focused on adaptive dance and hybrid learning environments. In addition to her scholarly and teaching roles, Pentz is deeply committed to community-based practice and accessibility in the arts. Her work includes programming in Dance for Parkinson's Disease and other adaptive dance initiatives that support individuals with diverse physical, cognitive, and social needs. Through her leadership, research, and service, she continues to advance dance education as a field that bridges artistry, scholarship, and meaningful community impact.