The 8th Arts Pedagogy Conference at the Hungarian Dance University welcomed world-renowned movement educator Eric Franklin for a standout second day featuring a keynote lecture and two practical workshops.
Franklin, founder of the Franklin Method® Institute, delivered a plenary session titled “Dynamic Mental Imagery in Dance Education: Supporting Technical Development and Injury Prevention”. He explored how cognitive imagery and somatosensory awareness can enhance learning, performance, and body-conscious movement in dance education. His lecture combined empirical research with practical applications to demonstrate how internal visualization improves movement quality and reduces tension-related patterns in dancers.
Beyond the lecture, Franklin led two workshops:
- One tailored to ballet masters, focusing on using visualization and tactile techniques to support precise ballet instruction and deepen anatomical understanding.
- Another open to arts educators, where participants experienced the core principles of body-mind connection and learned how to apply these methods to enhance expressive potential, promote healthy movement, and support creative development.
With over 240 attendees and activities across seven venues—including roundtables and dance workshops—the conference exceeded expectations, fostering an inspiring atmosphere for educators, researchers, and performers alike.
Franklin’s presence was a highlight, offering attendees a unique chance to engage directly with a method that integrates artistic expression, movement science, and somatic awareness.
Source: Hungarian Dance University
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