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Introduction NHSDA Vision, Mission, and Goals General Summary Program Costs Starting a Chapter Induction Information Steps for Induction Graduation with Honors Information Steps for Graduation with Honors Loss of Privileges Transference Promoting Your Chapter NHSDA Award Program Induction Point System Rubrics Resources

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY FOR DANCE ARTS
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JUNIOR/SECONDARY PROGRAM

NHSDA Award Program

What is the Award and who can apply?

Students who are in 11th or 12th grade and who have been inducted into their school’s NHSDA chapter can apply for the annual NDEO Artistic Merit, Leadership and Academic Achievement Award, the highest student dance award in the nation.

What types of awards will be given?

There are two levels of adjudication: State and National. At the state level the top applicants are selected to receive a state award (in states where NDEO has a State Affiliate). At the national level, NDEO awards a National Winner, several Finalists and several Honorable Mentions. All student award recipients will receive a letter of congratulations, a certificate, and mention on the NHSDA website. In addition to the $1000 monetary award/scholarship for the National Winner, NDEO extends a complementary offer for all National Winners, Finalists and Honorable Mentions to attend NDEO’s National Conference. The award recipients can attend the conference to be publically recognized for their award in front the 500+ NDEO members, participate in a choreography and performance workshop, and attend regular conference sessions. (Travel and lodging costs not included.) Traveling with a parent chaperone is recommended. If traveling with a dance teacher chaperone, teacher must pay conference registration fees.

What are the award criteria?


The NDEO Artistic Merit, Leadership and Academic Achievement Award selection process assesses applicants on the basis of artistic and technical excellence in dance, leadership, and academic achievement. For a full review of the award criteria and the application process, please see the separate NHSDA Award page on the NHSDA website. The applicants are judged in three main categories with each category carrying equal weight:

Artistic Merit

The Nominee must demonstrate artistic and technical excellence in dance.
  • Technical excellence as seen in video
  • Artistic Merit as seen in video
  • Essay #1: Choreography - What was the intent of your original choreography? Please provide title of work, inspiration, and any challenges you encountered in the choreographic process. (Limit 250 words)
Leadership

The Nominee must demonstrate outstanding leadership in and outside of the field of dance at the school, community, state, and/or national level.
  • Recommendation Letter
  • Resume
  • Essay #2: Impact of Dance on Life - What impact has dance had on your life, in and out of the studio? How do you plan to use this influence in the future to have an impact on other people and communities? (Limit 500 words)
Academic Achievement

The Nominee must demonstrate academic excellence with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
  • Overall school GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Transcript (official or unofficial) 
  • Grammar and Writing Style - Based on Essay #1 and Essay #2

What is the application process? What is the deadline?

The award information is available in mid-December. The applicant will complete an online application via the Accept'd web platform and be required to upload several essays, a headshot, a video, a resume and a recommendation letter. There is a $25 application fee. The application deadline is typically during the third week of February with state level announcements by the end of March, and national announcements by first week of May.

How is the scholarship funded?

The NDEO Artistic Merit, Leadership, and Academic Achievement award is funded through generous donations to the NDEO Works! fund. NDEO hopes to increase both the amount of the award and the number of scholarships in coming years as we receive increased donations. To make a contribution to the award fund today, donate to the NDEO Works! Fund, and note in the comments that you would like your donation put toward the NHSDA Award fund.