Inclusive Dance: Welcoming All Majors to NHSDA Chapters

Sarah Jenkins · 2026-01-26

You know, I've been thinking a lot lately about who gets to call themselves a dancer. Is it only the students who've been in ballet slippers since they were three? Or the ones majoring in dance at university? I don't think so. Dance is a language of the body, and everyone should have the chance to speak it. That's why the movement to welcome students from all academic majors into National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) chapters is so exciting. It's about breaking down the invisible walls that sometimes separate 'dance majors' from everyone else. Because passion for movement doesn't check your transcript first. ### Why Inclusivity in Dance Honors Matters Think about it. A biology student brings a unique understanding of anatomy to choreography. A psychology major might explore movement as emotional expression in a completely different way. A computer science student could revolutionize how we document or teach dance sequences. When we limit these honors to one department, we're missing out on so much creative potential. Dance studios and choreographers in the professional world understand this already. The most innovative companies thrive on diverse perspectives. They know that a great performer or creator isn't defined by their college major, but by their dedication, creativity, and understanding of movement. ### Building Bridges Between Disciplines Opening NHSDA chapters to all majors does something beautiful—it creates natural bridges between departments. Suddenly, you have engineering students collaborating with theatre majors on lighting design for a production. You have education minors helping develop dance curriculum for younger students. The cross-pollination of ideas is where real innovation happens. For dance professionals reading this, consider how this translates to your own studio or company. Are there ways you could be more intentionally inclusive of people with different educational or professional backgrounds? Sometimes the most breathtaking choreography comes from someone who approaches movement with completely fresh eyes. ### The Practical Benefits for Students Let's talk about what this means for the students themselves. For non-dance majors, joining an NHSDA chapter provides: - A structured community of fellow dance enthusiasts - Recognition for their artistic achievements alongside their academic work - Opportunities for leadership roles within the arts - A formal way to document their dance involvement for future resumes For dance majors, it means learning from peers with different expertise. It's about seeing dance through multiple lenses, which only deepens everyone's understanding. As one student recently told me, 'My chemistry lab partner sees rhythm in molecular structures—it makes me think about tempo in ways I never would have alone.' ### What This Means for Dance Education This shift toward inclusivity reflects a larger change in how we view dance education. We're moving away from the idea that dance is only for specialists and toward understanding it as a fundamental form of human expression that benefits everyone. Whether someone dances professionally or just for joy on weekends, their contribution to the art form matters. Dance studios can take inspiration from this model. Consider creating 'open level' honor societies or recognition programs within your own communities. Celebrate the accountant who takes evening ballet classes after work. Honor the nurse who choreographs pieces for local showcases. Their dedication enriches our entire dance ecosystem. At the end of the day, dance isn't about what's written on your diploma. It's about what moves through you—the rhythm, the expression, the story your body needs to tell. When we create spaces that honor that truth, we don't just build better dance programs. We build better artists, and frankly, better human beings. So here's to tearing down those artificial barriers. Here's to the physics major who finds grace in equations and arabesques. Here's to the business student who applies marketing principles to grow audience engagement. Their diverse paths don't dilute dance—they make it stronger, more vibrant, and more relevant to our beautifully complex world.