Born from the collaboration of two co-educators, Marisa f. Ballaro and Whitney Jacobs, MOVEwise is the brainchild of a decade-long partnership rooted in curiosity, creativity, and a deep belief in the transformative power of dance.
MOVEwise empowers students to discover their own creative voice through movement. We create respectful, playful, and purposeful learning experiences where students can take creative risks, experiment without fear of judgment, and develop ideas through curiosity, choice, and reflection.
We believe movement education should be accessible but not limiting, structured but not prescriptive, and focused on the process of discovery rather than the pursuit of a perfect product.
Guiding Principles of MOVEwise:
There Are No Wrong Answers.
We foster environments where students feel safe to explore, take creative risks, and share ideas without fear of judgment or failure.
Be Brave. Make It Your Own.
We use purposeful play, improvisation, and experimentation to help students move with intention, discover possibilities, and develop authentic artistic expression. We encourage students to trust their instincts and make choices that are uniquely their own.
Simplified, But Not Simple.
We provide clear prompts and thoughtfully structured tasks that make creative exploration accessible while leaving room for complexity, choice, and depth. Structure gives students a place to begin; imagination determines where they go.
Prioritize Process Over Product.
We meet students where they are and thoughtfully build complexity over time. We value curiosity, experimentation, reflection, and growth as much as — and often more than — the final result.
Our Story: A Decade of Moving Together
For more than a decade, we’ve been dreaming, designing, teaching, and learning together.
What began as a shared passion for dance education grew into a deep collaboration — one rooted in a shared vision and set of values about what dance can make possible for learners. Together, we’ve cultivated a layered, joyful community of people who believe in the power of dance — not simply as an art form, but as a way to connect, imagine, communicate, take risks, and discover one’s own voice.
Over the years teaching together at The Brearley School in Manhattan, we built a program rooted in access, inclusion, and meaningful exposure to dance at the heart of its growth. We’re proud of what grew — and even more proud of how it grew.
Beyond Brearley, we’re still moving together — carrying forward a decade of ideas, relationships, lessons, laughter, and a shared belief in what dance education can be.
We are Marisa f. Ballaro and Whitney Jacobs. This is MOVEwise.
Presenting at NYSDEA, Jan 2026.
Where we’ve been and where you can find us:
November 2026
Reflect & Respond: Zoom Meet-up
Tuesday, November 19 | 7pm EST on Zoom
Take the improvisational strategies we shared and try them out in your own spaces. Come with questions, reflections, adaptations, brilliant moments, and even the sessions where you felt the struggle...it's all part of the process!
We’ll troubleshoot together, share what we’re discovering, and offer support in real time so you can continue to make these materials your own and use them most effectively with your students.
September 2026
NDEO National Conference | Albuquerque, NM
Featured Presenters | Unlock the Artist Within: CREATE, PLAY, MOVE
Check out our presentation slides HERE!
January 2026
NYSDEA Winter Conference | Rochester, NY
Featured Presenters | Unlock the Artist Within: CREATE, PLAY, MOVE
GET IN TOUCH!
Presenting at NYSDEA, Jan 2026.