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Students must be ($50/year), or ($75/year) at the time of the Induction and receipt of Graduation with Honors.
The NHSDA Induction criteria are designed to allow for flexibility so that honor society induction reflects and supports the school's mission and circumstances. There are 3 main criteria: earned participation points; character; and GPA.
To qualify for induction, the student must earn points in each of three major strands of the NHSDA National Collegiate Point System for a total of 45 points.
The 3 strands offer 10 categories within which the student may earn points. Students are required to earn points from a minimum of 6 of the 10 categories which helps students expand the scope and depth of their experience and knowledge-base in the field of dance. Therefore, the number of points a student can accumulate in each category is limited.
Artistic Merit offers students the ability to earn points in 4 categories:
#1 Dance Technique and Dance Education Classes This category awards points for studio technique classes taken in various genres of dance. In addition, it awards points for academic courses in dance that include the movement sciences (anatomy, kinesiology, Bartenieff, Pilates, etc.), dance pedagogy (teaching methodologies, standards and assessments, education theory and practicum, etc.), and specific academic courses (history, criticism, literature, research, philosophic foundation of dance, etc.). In addition, the student may earn points through participation and attendance in local, state and national (non-NDEO) conferences and the coursework therein obtained. #2 Choreography This category awards points for a broad range of choreographic works completed for assignments in- or outside of class, on-site or off-site. It awards points for original choreographic compositions created for adjudications such as American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA) or similar festivals. It awards points for written reviews of dance performances that analyze choreographic composition (choreographic principals, elements of dance).
#3 Performance This category awards points for on-site or off-site performance, and for participation is dance festivals such as American Dance Festival (ADF), Bates Dance Festival, ACDFA and others.
#4 Dance Production This category encourages students to participate in some of the many aspects of dance production outside of the artistic realm (direction and management, business aspects, lighting, sound, costumes and wardrobe, makeup, videography and photography, documentation, publicity, etc.).
Leadership offers students the ability to earn points in 3 categories:
#5 Officer and Awards This category awards points for serving as an officer in, or receiving awards from, the NHSDA Chapter or another organization associated with the institution or studio at a local, community, state or national level.
#6 Teaching and Mentoring This category awards points for community outreach which frequently involves teaching classes, supporting dance activities, and mentoring others on or off-site.
#7 Charity or Fundraising This category awards points for volunteer assistance and fundraising for community events on or off-site; volunteering to help at state or national conferences; and working in administrative capacities at the institution (studio or cultural center) at local, state and national levels.
Academic Achievement offers students the ability to earn points in 3 categories:
#8 Research and Scholarship This category awards points for independently or collectively engaging in the dance research process, or for adding to the knowledge-base of the research field, or assisting in the dissemination of research. It includes assisting a faculty member with a research project; authoring or co-authoring a research paper; using the Dance Education Literature and Research descriptive index (DELRdi), or teaching others to use it; writing grants to secure research funding; reading and reporting on the various standards documents on the NDEO web; doing gap analyses on curriculum, research topics, 21st century skills, etc., and participating in the NDEO online forums.
#9 Advocacy This category awards points for raising awareness in quality dance, art, and education related causes. It can involve writing letters to legislators, school boards, institutional administrators; visiting with congressional or other government leaders; developing and disseminating advocacy toolkits; participating in peaceful rallies or walks; and participation in local or national Arts Advocacy Days.
#10 NDEO and State Affiliate Meetings and Conferences This category awards points for the student becoming actively involved in NDEO at a state and/or national level. This may include submitting proposal to present with a faculty advisor at state and/or national conference; attending the state or national conference, joining in the special interest groups, attending socials and network sessions with the local NDEO state affiliate, and assisting with the administration of state and national events
A student must receive an above average character reference from their Chapter Sponsor or another dance professor familiar with the student’s character and work ethic.
For Student Induction the character reference focuses on the individual’s self-motivation, respect for self and others, tolerance, resourcefulness, collaborative nature and team effort, creative spirit to solve problems, and willingness to help others as needed or possible.
Determinations made for Character References are frequently made through personal observation and interaction with the student and peers, and the solicitation of input from other faculty either verbally or in writing.
The NHSDA requires a minimum of a 3.5 GPA for Student Induction after 45 points have been earned.
The GPA is calculated on either the overall GPA (combined subject areas) or the dance GPA (academic excellence within the dance discipline), as determined by the chapter sponsor or faculty advisor in light of chapter goals and institutional policies.
Should a student’s GPA fall below a 3.5 (dance or overall), there is no penalty or movement to dishonor the student. NHSDA designations remain with the student’s record. The faculty advisor and/or Chapter Sponsor are encouraged to work with the student to help the student regain academic rigor. All GPA records should be maintained by the sponsor or appropriate school personnel and should be handled in a manner that respects the privacy of the student and is in compliance with FERPA regulations.