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Why is NDEO launching the Online Professional Development Institute for Dance Arts Education?
The ultimate target population for this project is the millions of children in the US that have the right to study dance arts from a highly qualified dance educator trained in standards based, graduated, sequential, and age-appropriate curriculum.
Unfortunately, dance arts education certification is not standardized across the country, nor is it readily available or affordable to all those who need it. There is little opportunity for private sector dance educators to receive quality professional development in teaching methods and pedagogy. Most dance programs in higher education focus on choreography and performance, yet most young dancers earn their livelihood by teaching dance classes to children or youth with no little or no professional training in teaching methods and pedagogy.
In addition, 14 states do not have K-12 certification in dance, budget cuts have caused states to lose their dance certification completely and state college and universities have eliminated their K-12 dance certification programs meaning that certain states can no longer prepare dance educators for K-12 dance arts education. Teachers who are fully licensed to teach other disciplines in K-12 education still need a dance certificate to legally meet the highly qualified teacher status or legally teach dance beyond their K-12 certified area of expertise.
In addition, many states allow educators to teach dance with a Physical Education certification, however, this does not adequately prepare the teacher to teach dance in the arts. For more information on the difference between Dance in the Arts and Dance taught in Physical Education, click here.
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