National Honor Society in Dance Arts

INTRODUCTION DETAILS

Students who meet the Requirements may apply for Induction at any time.

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General Requirements for Induction:

• GPA: A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.

• DEMONSTRATION OF CHARACTER: Demonstration of collaborative teamwork, motivation, and leadership as determined by a DIDC Mentor or recommendations given by the student’s Teachers or School Administrators.

• EARNED PARTICIPATION POINTS: A minimum of 30 points earned via The NHSDA National Induction Point System. (See more information in The NHSDA National Induction Point System section of this page.)

Lakiah Wilson Academy of Dance will hold ONE Induction Ceremonies each year in the SPRING on May 16th, 2023.

Are you a graduating senior? It’s not too late! Email lwilsonacademyofdance@gmail.com to find out how LWAD can induct qualifying seniors retroactively.

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The NHSDA National Induction Point System

The NHSDA National Induction Point System provides a range of points possible for various activities. Students must earn a minimum of 30 Points in order to be considered for Induction. Points can be earned in a variety of ways, including:

• Participation in a High School or Studio Dance Program

• Participation in Dance Related Activities

• Participation in Other Duties Related to Dance Production

• Leadership Participation within LWAD

• Individual Customized Activities as Determined by the LWAD Sponsor and Inductee

Click the NHSDA POINT SYSTEM tab above to view or print the Induction Point System

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ARTISTIC MERIT, LEADERSHIP, & ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Students who have been inducted into the NHSDA Secondary Program through Lakiah Wilson's Academy of Dance and are current juniors and seniors in High School are eligible for the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) Artistic Merit, Leadership and Academic Achievement Award, the highest student dance award in the nation. This year, the National Winner of the award will receive up to a $1000 scholarship, a certificate, recognition at the annual NDEO conference, and will be featured on both the NHSDA and NDEO websites throughout the year.

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AWARD CRITERIA

Applicants are rated based on the strength of their technical and artistic merit, leadership, and academic achievement. These categories are assessed through a self-choreographed solo video, four essay questions, GPA and transcript, recommendation letter and resume. Each category is worth 300 points for a total score of 900 possible points. The top two applicants with the highest score in their state sponsoring organization (where applicable) are forwarded on to the National office for national adjudication. The applicants are judged in three main categories:

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1. 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)

2. 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)

3. 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)

 

DATES & DEADLINES

Applications should be submitted NO LATER THAN May 1st, 2023

National Winner, Finalists, and Honorable Mentions will be notified by email.

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HOW TO APPLY

• Follow the “NHSDA AWARD” link above

• In the “Start an Application” box on the left side of the page, select the drop tab, “Select a Program Group.” The Award will be listed there; Select it.

• In the drop tab, “Select Program,” select “National Award Consideration: ALL STATES.” This will bring up the appropriate application along with directions and guidelines.

• Select the Application Tab at the bottom of the page

• You will then be prompted to create a FREE account with www.getacceptd.com. This will allow you to upload materials, save your application, and submit it for consideration.

• Continue to follow the guidelines outlined in the application.