Dance Program Establishes Chapter of the National Honors Society for Dance Arts
Posted August 13, 2012
Led by the efforts of Dance Director Avi Gold, the St. Andrew’s Dance Program is thrilled to begin the upcoming school year as a full member of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). Membership provides the program the additional opportunity to establish it’s very own chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA). Students inducted into the NHSDA will now have a tangible way to quantify both the academic and extra-curricular work they put into their dance education through a point-based system. The NHSDA will not only recognize student’s meritorious work, but also give deserved recognition to dance class grade point averages, cooperative teamwork, motivation, outreach, choreography, performances, student teaching and mentoring and production assistance. NHSDA members will be able to earn awards at the school level and be eligible to apply for NDEO Awards in Artistic Merit, Leadership and Academic Achievement at the national level.
“I am excited for the opportunity this will give our students,” said Gold. “The goal for establishing this chapter is to create even greater student involvement in the dance program on campus and recognize the efforts and passion so many bring to the classroom and stage. It will give students wanting to delve deeper into the field of dance an opportunity to keep track of and quantify their accomplishments while promoting artistic merit, leadership and academic achievements.”
Gold also took the initiative this summer to begin developing a new organization: the Delaware Dance Council (DeDC). Gold conceived of the Council alongside professors from the University of Delaware, Delaware’s Department of Education and dance educators across the state with the goal of promoting dance instruction in the region. The Council is also planning to become the state’s first affiliate of the National Dance Education Organization.