Nu Delta Alpha-the National Dance Honor Society
Teachers, especially in academic settings, are always looking for unique and appropriate ways to challenge their students and raise the level of the arts. While teaching in both high school and college, I began looking for a way to extend students' experience in the arts while not losing sight of their academic requirements. I had hoped my undergraduate dance honor society could help, but they worked only with four-year colleges and universities at the time. I was already a member of AAHPERD and found Nu Delta Alpha through them instead. Nu Delta Alpha, the national dance honor society under the auspices of the National Dance Association, could be just what you need, too.
The National Dance Association is a division of AAHPERD, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (www.aahperd.org/nda, nda@aahperd.org, 1-800-213-7193). Media information says it is "the premiere groundbreaking honor society that recognizes students, educators and professionals for their achievements in dance - encompassing performance, choreography, scholarship and technology through the leader in dance education, the National Dance Association."
I began a chapter at Churchland High School in Portsmouth, VA before I left to teach full-time at Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, VA, and have started one here.
The response from the students, supervisors and deans in both places has been positive. Any chance to combine arts and academics should be added to every curriculum.
The NDA program is well-planned. The only problems I have encountered were trying to get timely and correct answers to my questions.
Interested in having your own chapter? While the process wasn't as quick and smooth as I had hoped, it is under way. Here is a brief history of my experiences, with some hints and warnings as you go on your way.
"As the King said to the White Rabbit, very solemnly, 'Begin at the beginning, go on until you come to the end, then stop.'" Let's begin.
The advisor must be a member of the National Dance Association (AAHPERD) to begin an NDA chapter. You can hold an individual membership, or the educational institution you work for can join under institutional membership and you can function as their representative. That advisor may hold the post as long as he/she is an NDA member in good standing, and as long as the principal or dean approves having you at the helm.
Dance teachers usually give extra time in planning and choreographing performances. Through NDA, you and your students, and therefore your school, can earn extra recognition.
NDA recommends that you establish your chapter at least four weeks before the beginning of the school year, but this can be difficult if you don't know how many students are interested or if they have the qualifying 3.0 GPA. The other problem is getting the money before school begins. The one-time fee for the high school level is $100, and for the college/university level is $200. Most funds are not dispensed until after the school year begins and organizational need and worthiness is proven and approved.
You will need to send in NDA's Institutional Letter of Commitment, listing the advisor and other pertinent information, acknowledging their mission statement: "NDA is the leader of artistic and educationally effective dance programs as they impact the lives of all people. The mission of the National Dance Association is to increase knowledge, improve skills and encourage sound professional practices in dance education while promoting and supporting creative and healthy lifestyles through high quality dance programs." You will also submit your membership chapter roster and registration form.
If you are in a college/university setting you will probably need to meet the requirements of your Student Government Association also. Tidewater Community College requires a minimum of ten members before an organization can receive approval.
Once enrolled, you will receive NDA's constitution and by-laws with other information that includes a sample induction ceremony, the sample chapter handbook from the Texas A&M University Chapter of Nu Delta Alpha, student recognition awards and other NDA information. You will need to register annually with the national headquarters to remain current and active.
Tidewater Community College has a very active, serious and professionally focused SGA. We ran into a Catch-22 situation that delayed our progress. TCC's SGA needed to see a copy of the national organization's by-laws before we could be approved to begin creating a chapter, but NDA would not send us that copy at first. Several calls, emails and months later, we had that copy. We then needed to abide by TCC's rules and create our own by-laws that followed TCC's requirements before recruiting could begin.
The idea, constitution, by-laws and premise that NDA has created is excellent. Participation in an honor society is always helpful on college and job applications. Participation in anything that combines arts and academics is a boon to both.
More on NDA in next month's column.