Mind in Motion: Exploring the Brain Through Dance with Ashley Aaroe, A&S '11 and Whitney Janis, A&S '11

Mind in Motion: Exploring the Brain Through Dance with Ashley Aaroe and Whitney Janis, A&S '11 Header Image

Lifelong Learning LogoCourse Title: Mind in Motion: Exploring the Brain Through Dance

Instructor: Dr. Ashley Aaroe, A&S '11 and Whitney Janis, A&S '11

Brought to you by Odyssey  

October 23, 2025 - December 4, 2025 (6 Sessions) 

Thursdays,  6:00PM ET - 7:00PM ET 

Virtual via Zoom

 

Course Description: How do emotion, history and cultural tradition intersect with the functions of the human nervous system to create and appreciate dance? Join a unique team—a neurologist and a dancer-educator—as we explore how the mind produces movement, and how movement, in turn, affects the mind. Each weekly session includes a brief, accessible introduction to neuroscience grounded in the fundamentals of dance, followed by an experiential movement component. Topics include motor planning, rhythm, the vestibulocerebellar system, the limbic system, mirror neurons, and neuroplasticity—brought to life through physical expression. No neuroscience or dance experience required; just curiosity and a space to move.

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Johns Hopkins Tuition Remission Policies 

Johns Hopkins alumni, staff, faculty and their spouse or domestic partners are eligible for tuition remission for Odyssey lifelong learning courses. Select the correct ticket pricing during registration. If we cannot confirm your eligibility, you will be requested to pay the full registration price for the course.  Eligibility details can be found here.

Withdrawals & Refunds:

If a course is canceled or closed, the registrant is notified immediately, and a full refund is processed automatically unless another course is requested. Registrants who wish to withdraw from an active course must complete the online Odyssey Refund Request Form. Attach any documentation to support your request (e.g., medical documentation, family crisis documentation, etc.).

  • 100% refund: Prior to the start of the course and after the first class.
  • No refunds: After the first week of each course unless in exceptional cases.

For single-session courses:
100% refundable within two (2) business days of the event.

Please note, refunds apply only to the tuition portion of an Odyssey participant’s charges and are not applicable to any fees or gifts made to the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association. Registrants will be notified by email if a refund is approved within five (5) business days.

ABOUT Dr. Ashley Aaroe, A&S '11
Odyssey Instructor

Ashley Aaroe MD graduated from Johns Hopkins with a B.A. in Neuroscience in 2011. She earned her medical degree from Northwestern University, and subsequently completed residency in neurology at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center. She now is an Assistant Professor in Neuro-Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is board certified in Neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and in Neuro-Oncology by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties. Her clinical interests include the management of primary and metastatic brain tumors, and neurological complications of cancer and cancer therapy. In addition to her clinical and research activities she is passionate about physician advocacy and regularly participates in events with policymakers on behalf of the AAN and the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS). She has a lifelong love of dance, and was active in several undergraduate dance groups during her time at Johns Hopkins.

ABOUT Whitney Janis, A&S '11
Odyssey Instructor

Whitney Janis is a dancer, instructor and arts enthusiast. She completed her professional training at The Ailey School and participated in summer intensives at The Ailey School, San Francisco Conservatory and Elisa Monte Dance. Whitney has performed with American Liberty Ballet, ARIM Dance, Artists By Any Other Name, Avoir Motion, Bugge Ballet, Dance Visions NY, NYC Dance Arts, Dance Entropy and VashtiDance Theater in venues throughout New York City and in Virginia, North Carolina and Australia. She has worked with choreographers Souleymane Badolo, Julia Bengtsson, Bassam Abou Diab, Valerie Mae Browne, Michael Buoni, Ari Mayzick, Nicole Bugge and Beth Jucovy among others. Her choreography has been presented in NYC and Australia.

Whitney teaches dance in various styles to students of all ages with Alvin Ailey’s Arts-in- Education, and has taught at Rivertown Dance Academy, MotionScoop Dance, Arts in Blue, Brooklyn Dance Conservatory and Chrystie Street Ballet. She is an ABT® Certified Teacher through Level 5 and completed Ailey’s Horton Teacher Training Workshop in all levels. Whitney graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2011 with a B.A. in Writing Seminars. She was a founding member of Jaywalk, the Hopkins contemporary-jazz dance collective, and appeared in Peabody Dance’s production of The Sleeping Beauty.

 Event Date
Starts:
Thursday, October 23, 2025
6:00pm EDT

Ends:
Thursday, December 4, 2025
7:00pm EDT

 Contact
Odyssey
800-JHU-JHU1 (548-5481)
odyssey@jhu.edu

Ticket Options
$
50% discount. Alumni status will be confirmed.
$
80% discount. Employment status will be confirmed.
$
50% discount. Employment status of Spouse/Domestic Partner will be confirmed.
$

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