How The National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) Impacts Student Development
In 2025, we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of The National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA). NHSDA is the only national program that recognizes artistic merit, leadership, and academic achievement in students studying dance in public and private schools in K-12 education, dance studios, cultural/community centers, performing arts organizations, and post-secondary education. A pilot program for NHSDA was launched for secondary schools in Arizona, South Carolina, Utah, and Florida in 2005, with support from The Capezio Foundation. In 2012, the NHSDA Collegiate Program was established, and the Junior Program for students in grades 6-8 was formalized in 2016. To learn more about NHSDA, visit the NHSDA website.
What is the role of dance in student development?
At NDEO, we are committed to offering programs and services that help dance educators foster student development through dance education. Student development is the process of how students grow and develop their skills, both inside and outside of the classroom - or in our case, the dance studio! When considering student development, their academic, social, emotional, and physical growth and well-being are taken into account. As dance educators, we know that dance has a positive impact on student development, because we have seen that impact firsthand time and time again. There is also ample research suggesting and even confirming the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical benefits that dance provides for students. (To learn more about dance education research, visit https://www.ndeo.org/Learn/Dance-Education-Research) The National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA), a program of NDEO, fosters student development by celebrating dancers for their academic achievement, leadership, and artistic merit.
How does NHSDA impact student development?
Many dance honors and awards focus solely on technique and performance. At NDEO, we understand that excellence in dance goes beyond just how well someone executes movement. Dance is multifaceted, and there are many ways that students can excel in dance. They may be excellent choreographers, or have an amazing capacity for moving the audience with their performance. They may be incredible educators-in-training, serving as assistant teachers or studying pedagogy. They may be developing skills in dance history, writing about dance, arts administration, screendance, or dance medicine. All students should be recognized for their commitment to and achievements in this vast and diverse world of dance - and NHSDA helps to make that possible.
NHSDA recognizes that all students are unique
To be inducted into NHSDA, students earn points in a range of areas. These include:
- Participating in dance classes, rehearsals, performances, and other activities through their NHSDA Chapters
- Participating in off-campus dance events like workshops, festivals, adjudications, camps, and intensives
- Creating and presenting choreography
- Conducting research or participating in scholarly activities related to dance, such as essays, performance reviews, or research papers
- Helping to produce a dance event, including backstage work, marketing, photography, or design for a dance performance
- Serving in a leadership or administrative role within their NHSDA chapter or in their school or community
- Volunteering at a Chapter, school, or community event
- Mentoring other dance students or serving as a teaching assistance
- Viewing dance-related media, including attending live performances or watching videos in the NHSDA Voices series: https://www.ndeo.org/nhsda/NHSDA-Voices
Because the range of activities through which students can earn points is so diverse, students are allowed to interact with different aspects of the dance field. Potential inductees are required to earn points in a variety of categories, not just by taking dance classes or participating in performances. This encourages students to explore the world of dance beyond technique. It helps them make connections between dance and their other areas of interest, like history, science, community service, writing, or art and design. They are able to see that dance can remain a meaningful part of their life even if they do not continue to take dance classes or pursue a professional dance career after graduation. They also learn that their unique talents are beneficial to the field of dance, and that they can contribute to the dance community in important ways.
NHSDA encourages academic achievement for dance students
In addition to earning points, NHSDA inductees are required to meet a minimum GPA requirement. The GPA requirement helps to make NHSDA consistent with other honor societies, like those for math, music, and language. The availability of such an honor society for dancers helps to elevate dance within the school curriculum as a course of study worthy of recognition and equal to other academic disciplines. Academic achievement is an important part of student development, and one that can be undervalued within the dance industry. NDEO believes that the GPA requirement for induction into NHSDA helps dancers understand the importance of lifelong learning, curiosity, and discovery. It encourages strong time management and organizational skills, as students are expected to keep their grades up while pursuing their dance training. Through the focus on academic achievement, dancers can come to understand that dance has connections to many fields of study, and that all are interconnected and important to their growth as dancers, scholars, and people.
NHSDA cultivates student leadership in dance
Beyond academics, NHSDA also emphasizes leadership and service through dance. Students can earn points for holding a leadership role in their NHSDA Chapter, or for participating in service projects in their Chapter, school, or community. Each March, NHSDA hosts Dance a Difference Week, a week dedicated to dance-based service and volunteerism. NHSDA Chapters can participate by planning a service project like a donation drive, community performance, fundraiser for a non-profit organization, or an awareness campaign. You can read more about what NHSDA Chapters have done for Dance a Difference Week in this blog post: https://www.ndeo.org/Learn/Dance-Education-Blog/ArticleID/343/12-Ways-to-Make-a-Difference-through-Dance
NHSDA fosters emotional well-being and growth for dance students
An important aspect of student development is their emotional well-being and growth. For many dance students, this can be a challenge. Some dancers are prone to perfectionism, comparison, and self-criticism. NHSDA can help support the emotional development of dance students by bolstering their confidence and encouraging a healthy self-image. Induction recognizes students for their holistic involvement in dance, not just how well they perform. For students who may not always get the leading role or excel in technique class, this recognition can be a big confidence boost. Additionally, students feel a sense of accomplishment when they put in the work to earn points and receive the reward of induction. With school approval, inductees can wear the blue and white Honor Cord and/or Medallion at graduation as a symbol of their hard work and commitment to their dance education. Throughout their time in NHSDA, inductees have opportunities to receive mentorship from their Chapter Sponsor and develop relationships with their peers. Both of these opportunities can support the students’ social and emotional development. Finally, through NHSDA’s Love Your Body Week, dancers have the opportunity to explore body positivity and celebrate all the wonderful things our bodies can do.
NHSDA prepares dance students for their future careers
Of course, the purpose of student development is to prepare students for future success. NHSDA can help contribute to that success by connecting students with the dance world beyond their school and community. There are approximately 1,500 active NHSDA Chapters in 47 states, Puerto Rico, and Shanghai. Beyond NHSDA, inductees can become connected to NDEO through their Chapter’s Institutional Membership. The Chapter Sponsor, as the holder of the membership, has access to an incredible array of resources that they can use to improve their teaching practice and benefit their students. These benefits include online courses, conferences, virtual professional development events, and journal subscriptions.
Through their participation in NHSDA, dance students will also learn skills that can help prepare them for their future careers, no matter what path they take in life. In addition, NHSDA inductees can apply for the NHSDA Artistic Merit, Leadership and Academic Achievement Award. This is considered one of the most prestigious awards for dance students in the United States, and comes with national recognition and a scholarship.
How can I start a NHSDA Chapter at my school?
Establishing an NHSDA chapter in your school is one very important way that you can help advance the field of dance education. Celebrating the artistic merit, leadership, and academic achievements of exceptional dance students helps to create honor and prestige within our field and improve our image to those outside the field, and offers benefits for students, institutions, and the field at large. If you are a dance educator who is interested in starting a Chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts at your school, you can learn more at https://www.ndeo.org/nhsda/Start-a-Chapter. If your school is not yet an Institutional Member of NDEO, you will need to sign up for a membership before setting up your chapter. You can learn more about NDEO membership here: https://www.ndeo.org/Membership
About NDEO
The “Dance Education” blog is brought to you by The National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), a thriving non-profit membership organization that supports YOU as a dance educator! NDEO works with and for dance educators of all backgrounds and in every setting and genre. We work for equitable and accessible dance education for all through advocacy, research, and support for the dance educators who are making a difference for their students. As a membership organization, we rely on dance educators like YOU to join us in this important work! When you become a member of NDEO, you align yourself with our vision of dance education for all. We invite you to become a part of our vibrant community that offers support, resources, advocacy, and research you need to make a difference for yourself and make an impact on our field. Now more than ever, we need to come together to celebrate and share the dynamic, affirming, community-building, transformative power of dance. Join the movement - become a member of NDEO today!
Photo Credits (in order from top to bottom): Featured photo courtesy of Gloucester County Institute of Technology by Cara Murphy, photo courtesy of Creative Conservatory of Dance and Performing Arts by Hope Daniel, photo courtesy of Miami Arts Charter School by Diana Ford.