National Dance Association

National Dance Association

Established	1932
President	Dr. Nancy Kane
Location	Reston, VA, USA
Affiliations	American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
Website	National Dance Association

The National Dance Association (NDA), located in Reston, VA, is an association within the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). The oldest of dance education organizations, NDA develops programs, publishes books and materials and sponsors professional development conferences for dance educators in a broad range of disciplines.

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History

The National Dance Association was originally established in 1932 as the section on Dance by the American Physical Education Association (APEA), a forerunner to the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (AAHPER). It was elevated to Divisional status in 1965 and nine years later became an association within the newly renamed American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

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Mission and Vision

Mission Statement

The National Dance Association leads in promoting and supporting creative, artistic and healthy lifestyles through quality services and programs in dance and dance education.

Vision Statement

The National Dance Association envisions a society where dance and dance education are an integral part of education and community life.

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Areas of Interest

The National Dance Association develops programs, publishes books and materials and sponsors professional development conferences for dance educators in a broad range of disciplines.

Constituencies Served

NDA serves dance educators in the following areas: Early Childhood Elementary Secondary College/University Private Studios/ Schools Dance Medicine & Science Dance Technology Curriculum Development Publications Development Dance Performance Dance for the Differently Abled Advocacy and Public Relations

Teacher/Dance Educator Enhancement

NDA promotes dance professionalism through continuing education credits in workshops and conventions held at national, district and state levels. Publications include NDA's landmark document, the National Standards for Dance Education, Opportunity- to- Learn Standards for Dance and Anne Green Gilbert's Creative Dance for All Ages.

Lobbying and Advocacy

NDA supports legislature, which enhances dance education opportunities for all ages and abilities.

Dance Science and Somatics

NDA is at the forefront supporting efforts to integrate technology within the arts through such conferences as Dancing with the Mouse. NDA supports healthy lifestyles through its publications Dance Movement Therapy and Preventing Dance Injuries.

Collaboration

NDA supports collaboration with other Alliance structures and external partnerships to promote dance on a National level. Some of these external partnerships include collaborations with Dance and the Child International (DACI), UNITY, Arts Education Partnership (AEP), the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, VSA Arts and Callerlab.

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National Impact

NDA is a strong advocate at the national level for promoting arts education and has established nationally recognized standards for dance education at all developmental levels.

National Dance Standards

The National Dance Standards were developed by the National Dance Association in 1994 as part of the National Standards for Arts Education developed by the Consortium of National Arts Education Associations and prepared under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities (Copyright ©1994, 2nd printing 1996. All rights reserved). They serve as the guiding principles for defining dance competencies at each of the developmental levels of dance students (K-4, 5-8, 9-12, College).

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Nu Delta Alpha

Nu Delta Alpha is the Premiere Honor Society recognizing Students and Professionals for High Achievements in Dance. It is designed for dance education students, dance educators, and professional dancers to express their devotion to the art form by sharing, recognizing, and promoting dance education within schools and communities. Nu Delta Alpha chapters are designated for middle through high school, college through professional levels, private studios, and preparatory and home schools. Affiliation with Nu Delta Alpha provides students and professionals with the opportunity to advocate for dance education.

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Officers

NDA is governed by a Board of Directors.

President	Nancy Kane, Ph.D	SUNY College at Cortland
Past President	Lori Head	Idaho State University
President-elect	Marcey Siegel	Manor Hill School
Representative, Board of Governors	Fran Meyer, Ph.D	Longwood University
Vice President, Education	Freddie Thompson-Esters	Hollywood High School
Vice President, Performance	Willys Ann Gaines	Willys Gaines Dance Theatre
Vice President, Performance-elect	Sharon Rae	Sharon Rae Dance
Vice President, Science & Somatics	Leslie Walden, Ed.D	Illinois State University
Director, State/District	Marian Simpson	Wayne State College (Retired)
Director, Publications	Sandy Weeks, Ph.D	Texas A&M University-Commerce
Parlimentarian	Joanne Lunt, Ed.D.	Winthrop University

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Annual Awards

Heritage Award

The Heritage Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contribution of national or international significance to dance in the following categories: Teaching excellence; Establishment or administration of a functioning dance department, center or program; Research or publication; Consulting; Choreography; Performance; Notation; or Related Arts.

The first Heritage Award was presented in 1963.

Heritage Award Winners

2009 - Lee Wakefield, Linda Wakefield	2008 - Mary Jane Wolbers	2007 - Earlynn J. Miller	2006 - Joan Woodbury
2005 - Gus Giordano	2004 - Donald McKayle	2003 - Ruth Solomon	2002 - Connie Jo Hepworth-Woolston
2001 - Nelda Guererro Drury	2000 - Mary Maitland Kimball	1999 - Kathryn G Ellis	1998 - Mary Bee Jensen
1997 - Kathleen Kinderfather	1996 - Margie R Hanson	1995 - Alma Hawkins	1994 - Jeanette Hypes
1993 - Jean Erdman	1992 - Betty Toman	1991 - B. Lewitsky, M Small Mains	1990 - Charlotte York Irey
1989 - Rose L Strasser	1988 - Michael Herman, Mary Ann Herman	1987 - Lois Ellfeldt	1986 - Evelyn Lockman
1985 - Aileene Lockhart	1984- Miriam Lidster	1983 - Peter Wisher	1982 - Mary Ella Montague
1980 - Dudley Ashton	1979 - Gladys Andrews Fleming	1978 - M. Francis Dougherty	1977 - Elizabeth R Hayes
1976 - Hanya Holm	1975 - Miriam Gray	1974 - Marian VanTuyl	1973 - Gertrude Lippincott
1972 - Vyts Beliajus	1971 - Katherine Dunham	1970 - Charles Weidman	1969 - Ruth L. Murray
1968 - Lucille Czardorns	1967 - John Martin	1966 - Martha Hill Davis	1965 - Ted Shawn
1964 - Louis Horst	1963 - Margaret H'Doubler

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Scholar/Artist

The NDA Scholar/Artist is selected by the NDA Research Committee. The awardee serves for one year beginning at the AAHPERD National Convention at which he/she delivers the NDA Scholar/Artist Lecture. The NDA Scholar/Artist is chosen by the following criteria:

• A scholarly record as evidenced by publications, presentations and other creative works including choreography extending over ten (10) years.
• Currently producing scholarly materials or other creative works.
• Document in-depth study of dance.
• Capable of communicating ideas and knowledge to selected arts groups as well as to groups in the Alliance disciplines

The first NDA Scholar was selected in 1977. The designation of Scholar was changed in 1995 to include "Artist" in the title; whereas, the first NDA Scholar/Artist was named in 1996.

Dance Scholar/Artists

2009 - Marita Cardinal	2008 - Wendy Oliver	2007 -	2006 - Paulette Côté
2005 - Anne Green Gilbert	2004 - Nancy Brooks Schmitz	2003 - Janice LaPointe-Crump	2002 - James W. Penrod
2001 - Rayma K. Beal	2000 - Lynnette Y. Overby	1999 - Sandra Minton	1998 - Billie Lepczyk
1997 - Bill Evans	1996 - Shirley Ririe	1995 - Penelope Hanstein	1994 - Susan W. Stinson
1993 - Judith Gray	1992 - Ruth Solomon	1991 - Janice Gudde Plastino	1990 - Edrie Ferdun
1989 - Sarah Chapman Hilsendager	1988 - Earlynn Miller	1987 - Mary Ella Montague	1986 - Aileene S. Lockhart
1985 - Mary Alice Brennan	1984 - Lois Ellfeldt	1983 - Charlotte York Irey	1982 - M. Frances Dougherty
1981 - Araminta Little	1980 - Ruth L. Murray	1979 - Miriam Gray	1978 - Elizabeth R. Hayes

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External links

• National Dance Association