NADTA 2024 Conference

Join the NADTA in kicking off the conference with an opening ceremony and prayer guided by Elder Blu Waters.

Why do we do a land acknowledgment?
A land acknowledgment is a statement recognizing the Indigenous people who originally inhabited the land where an event is taking place, aiming to honor their history as stewards of the land and acknowledge the ongoing impact of colonization, and a first step towards building respectful relationships with Indigenous communities and promoting awareness of their presence on the land; it's considered a way to recognize the past and present Indigenous peoples in a particular location.


Keynote presentation - Let's all learn more about how to juggle our mental health together.
In this session, you will not only hear Kyle's inspiring story but also learn basic juggling skills that can help you gain an edge on your mental health. Experience firsthand how juggling can be a powerful metaphor and practical tool for balancing life's complexities.

The development of consent-based practices within theatrical performance is a new concept that gained traction during the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements (Black & Newhauser, 2023). With the help of an intimacy choreographer, actors, stage managers, and other crew members are empowered to voice personal boundaries and assert autonomy, creating a culture of consent for all during intimate scenes (Black & Newhauser, 2023; Pace, 2020). In spring of 2023, the workshop facilitators took an intimacy-consent course at Kansas State University. As therapeutic theatre incorporates the same process as theatrical performance, the workshop facilitators implemented their learnings within their internship at Barrier Free Theatre, an inclusive therapeutic theatre company for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They found incorporating these consent-based experientials empowered clients to advocate boundaries, respect other boundaries, gain self-awareness, and collaborate in creating choreography that they were comfortable rehearsing and performing with their scene partners. The workshop facilitators believe that consent-based practices add a layer of respect towards our clients and can provide an explicit foundation for conscientiousness when using therapeutic touch. It is our hope that utilizing consent-based practices will transform the way we manage therapeutic touch as drama therapists and discuss the ways that we can improve our skills for our clients.