North Carolina dance educator, Sonya Monts has been recognized nationally as a Registered Dance Educator. This means that she is recognized as one of the most distinguished master dance educators in the United States.

Owner and director of The Dancer’s Extension in Saluda, Sonya has over 30 years of experience in dance with over 15 years of experience in dance education. She is a member of The National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), and a chapter sponsor for the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, a program of the NDEO. She is committed to continuing her education, and is currently enrolled in her eighth course in dance studies through the Online Professional Development Institute, also a program of the NDEO. She advocates for the advancement of the art of dance, and is a contributing author to the Dance Education in Practice professional journal.

Sonya Monts recently completed adjudication by her peers in the NRDE, providing evidence that she has mastered the Professional Teaching Standards for Dance Arts (PTSDA) through portfolio analysis, strong performance video and written documentation. The PTSDA provides eight content standards and multiple achievement standards that provide fundamental knowledge required of all master teachers.

Elsa Posey, president of the Registry, has been researching problems in the private sector since 1985. “What we found,” says Ms. Posey “was that there [are] many dance educators out there who had been doing an exceptional job in teaching and offering classes in their communities…but unfortunately, there was not a way to distinguish them from less ethical dance teachers and no means to educate the public on the difference.”

Founded in 1997, National Registry specifies recommended professional preparation for dance educators including education, dance training, teacher training, performing and teaching experience. Registered Dance Educators agree to abide by the code of ethics and guidelines that promote safety in teaching dance. The intent is that by adhering to these standards of professional conduct individual integrity will be promoted, the profession will be advanced and the public will be well served.

 

-article submitted
by Elsa Posey