POSTED October 2, 2026
ATCP's First Graduates
The first ever cohort for the Ailey Teacher Certification Program: Ailey Horton Technique graduated in 2026!
After the initial in-person week-long intensive and 32-week online study period, these dance teachers and educators left the program with new skills, new colleagues, and a deeper appreciation for the technical and choreographic potential of Ailey Horton.
Here what members of the first graduating class had to say about the program.
The sensibility and logic that I see so clearly woven into the Ailey Horton technique will help to guide me in all of the forms that I teach.
I truly believe this course has changed who I am as an educator on a fundamental level. While I learned an incredible amount about technique, history, alignment, and movement vocabulary, the most impactful takeaway for me was the importance of cultivating rich, organic, and authentic artistry in a world that often feels manufactured and disconnected.
Everything that I have experienced with this technique, this program, and the quality of detail has been beyond anything I can imagine. It has taught me to be a better teacher, to pay attention to details and how to effectively and efficiently give students guidance to feel successful.
ATCP Director Tracy Inman and Curriculum Coordinator Lakey Evans-Peña Photo by Jada Alfred
Implementing the Ailey Horton class flow structure has strengthened the way I approach teaching and has given me greater clarity and consistency in using the terminology and providing more effective real-time feedback.
One of the biggest takeaways from the Ailey Horton Technique coursework has been gaining a deeper understanding of the history behind the technique, its cultural significance, and the intentional progression of movement within the Horton syllabus. Understanding not only what we teach but why these exercises and progressions exist has given me a greater appreciation for the technique and strengthened my approach in the classroom.
Rather than approaching Horton as a rigid set of exercises, I now feel more encouraged to mix and match concepts in a thoughtful way, allowing the work to become a continuous discovery for both myself and my students.
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Hero Credit: Photo by Jada Alfred