UROP Project

Structures for Change: Creative Movement in Carceral Spaces

Creative Research, Community-Engaged Research, Dance, Communication, Incarceration

Research Mentor: Dr. Hannah Schwadron, She
Department, College, Affiliation: School of Dance, Fine Arts
Contact Email: Hschwadron@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 3
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: Leon Regional Juvenile Detention Center
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:

• Day: Tuesday, September 1
  Start Time: 12:00
  End Time: 5:00
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93685333001

Project Description

This project uses structured dance improvisation as a framework for creative practice and collaborative and reciprocal learning within carceral environments, and in this case, the Leon Regional Youth Detention Center. Led by FSU Associate Professor of Dance, Dr. Hannah Schwadron, the curriculum builds on improvisatory dance movement premises designed to strengthen communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving skills while developing self-agency through artistic expression. By using the movement floor as a real-time relational laboratory, this project treats UROP student researchers, incarcerated youth participants, and participating detention center educators and correctional officers alike as active change-agents whose shared insights reshape the environment and their own relationships to it through teamwork, adaptability, and shared leadership skills. The creative research frame emphasizes ongoing experimentation with movement practices and documentation of descriptive findings, autoethnographic reflection, and pedagogical development, first as a group of researchers at FSU in the first half of the Fall semester, and in a series of visits to the Leon Regional Youth Detention Center in the second half of the Fall Semester. The project year will culminate in two formal presentations through the Spring Semester at the AATI March 2027 symposium and the undergraduate research symposium, and opportunity to co-author an original essay for online publication with Dancer Citizen journal that reflects on project outcomes.

The nature of the project progress across two semesters. In the Fall semester, UROP students begin by working directly with Schwadron on campus to learn and embody her “Structures for Change” approach to dance improvisation and develop pedagogical tools for co-facilitation. In the second half of the Fall semester, they will join Schwadron at the Leon County Youth Detention Facility to co-facilitate movement sessions. In the Spring semester, UROP researchers will work with Schwadron to prepare and deliver two formal presentations and one co-authored essay.

Dr. Schwadron and FSU students will secure FSU IRB approval to document their own experiences and descriptive insights while working alongside incarcerated youth. Consent forms will be administered to all UROP and youth participants and will follow all policy and procedure required by FSU and the youth detention center.

As an FSU faculty-led initiative, this UROP project submission unlocks specific resource opportunities to support the undergraduate team. Dr. Schwadron will apply for the UROP Research Mentor Materials Grant to cover essential project materials. FSU student assistants who show exceptional dedication during this Fall/Spring cycle will be mentored to apply for independent summer funding, such as the FSU IDEA Grants (stipends up to $4,000), to expand the research.


Research Tasks: UROP student assistants are integrated into this project as active co-researchers and co-facilitators over a two-semester developmental sequence:

Fall 2026 Semester: Field Research & Workshops

The Fall 2026 semester focuses on preparation for and undertaking of Structures for Change workshops and co-facilitation as well as support for IRB submission. Specific tasks include Weekly movement practice (UROP student researchers learn “Structures for Change” dance improvisation repertoire and co-facilitation practice, first at FSU and then off campus with youth at the detention facility; schedule TBD), Support for IRB Application Drafting and Submission ( co-author application and draft consent forms for all participants), Reflective data collection (Maintain ongoing autoethnographic research journals detailing personal observations of group dynamics and shifts over time).


Spring 2027 Semester: Reflection & Dissemination

The Spring 2027 semester focuses on reflection and descriptive sharing of findings through two formal presentations and an original co-authored essay for online publication. Specific tasks include two Formal Presentations (Prepare and deliver two formal public presentations at the March 2027 AATI Symposium hosted at FSU and another at the FSU Undergraduate Research Symposium), Dancer Citizen Essay (Co-author an original essay synthesizing qualitative findings, project observations, and pedagogical growth).



Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Through close mentorship across both semesters, UROP students will develop 1) Qualitative Research Skills through Practice of descriptive research methodologies, autoethnographic logging, and human subjects research compliance (IRB), 2) Applied Pedagogy through firsthand experience navigating community-engaged arts research alongside youth in residential detention here in Leon County, and 3) Professional/Academic Experience through preparation and delivery of two formal symposium presentations and co-authoring of an original reflective essay.

Required skills/interests:
• Strong interest in dance and community-engaged arts education.
• Evidence of strong writing and verbal communication.
• Openness to collaborate with interdisciplinary and intergenerational team of faculty PI, justice-impacted youth, detention facility educators, correctional officers, and facility administrators.
• Weekly availability for studio practice, group discussion of project planning and progress, co-facilitation of movement workshops, co-writing sessions, and presentation practice.
• Access to personal transportation to and from Leon County Youth Detention Facility (approx. 10 min drive from campus)

Recommended skills/experience:
• Previous experience in structured dance or theater environments (in any form/dance modality).