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 94
Years And Counting!
By Kathy
Velasco
The Chicago
National Association of Dancing Masters (CNADM) can thank the
cakewalk for its existence. In the early 1900s that
high-strutting dance caught the public’s eye and paved the way
for Vernon and Irene Castle to sweep the country, popularizing
social dances everywhere they went. That burgeoning interest
in dance was the genesis for the formation of CNADM in 1912.
On August 15 of that year, 10 members convened for the
organization’s first meeting at Frank L. Oleson’s Dancing
Academy in Chicago.
The
following year, CNADM invited members to attend a
demonstration of the tango, and the association began its
94-year heritage of providing education to dance teachers,
studio owners, academics, and students.
The early
years primarily featured instruction in social dancing and
acrobatics but always provided master classes in ballet. As
the years passed, classes in tap, modern, and jazz dance were
added. (Interestingly, Gene and Fred Kelly were students at
CNADM workshops in the 1930s.) Today, the strength of CNADM
dance workshops remains their focus on the building blocks of
dance—ballet, tap, and jazz. Classes in hip-hop, musical
theater, and other disciplines fill out eight full days of
instruction at the annual Summer Dance Workshop.
Dance
Instruction: The Core of CNADM
The Chicago
National Association of Dance Masters (the name was changed in
the 1950s) is a nonprofit association of dance educators that
provides benefits for its members and is best known for its
workshops. The association welcomes non-member teachers and
provides special instruction for dance students. While
remaining true to its mission of educating dance teachers,
classes have been added to encourage students in their early
progress and provide opportunities for them to work with
faculty members from around the country.
The CNADM
Summer Workshops offer five instructional tracks:
Teacher’s
Training School, Teacher’s Convention, Dance & More, National
Ballet Forum, and Student Session. Teacher’s Training School
is a four-day session designed to increase teaching
competency. These classes emphasize teaching technique,
educational theory, and personal dance development. Teacher’s
Convention is a four-day continuing education seminar designed
to improve technique and provide original choreographic
material. Attendees must be at least 16 years of age to
participate in either Training School or Convention.
Unique to
CNADM workshops is Dance & More, a four-day training session
for aspiring dance professionals ages 16 to 21. Classes
include technique, dance theory, and practical topics such as
auditioning, injury prevention, and college selection. At the
association’s annual banquet, Dance & More attendees perform
original choreography.
Students
who are interested in a ballet intensive can attend the
National Ballet Forum. Entering its 33rd year, the Forum gives
young dancers ages 12 to 21 the opportunity to work
with
renowned choreographers. During the four-and-a-half day
workshop, dancers have original ballet pieces set on them,
which they perform at the annual Ballet Gala. Also included
are classes in ballet technique, modern, variations, and
pointe.
Students
who want to improve their technique in various dance
disciplines may choose to attend the three-day Student
Session. Designed for ages 10 to 17, the program offers a
diverse national faculty of ballet, tap, jazz, modern,
hip-hop, and musical theater teachers. Because of the small
class sizes in Ballet Forum and Student Session, many students
create long-lasting friendships, returning yearly to dance
together again. “My students benefit from the support they get
from one another inside and outside the workshop classroom,”
comments Janet Bartoli, owner of Studio One in Oregon, IL.
“The experience they receive and the relationships they build
with one another at the workshop help them dance better
together when they get home.”
 Student
Honors Program Encourages
Continuing Study
Seven years
ago, CNADM developed the Student Honors program, which
provides a benchmark classroom syllabus for teachers through
set knowledge and ability criteria for five age levels in
ballet, tap, and jazz. The program provides members with a
method for recognizing the accomplishments of their
students.Students demonstrate their knowledge in a specific
subject through written, oral, and demonstrative testing.
Current
CNADM Board President Rosanne Bootz, MDE, emphasizes the
importance of the Student Honors program to the future of
young dancers. “It’s vital that students learn early on the
importance of basic, fundamental technique. The tricks and
acrobatics may carry a ‘wow’ factor, but if the students don’t
have their fundamentals down, they won’t have the blocks on
which to build any kind of dance career— whether it’s in the
classroom or on the stage.”
Students
who pass their tests are recognized at a general assembly,
receive a special pin, and become eligible to test at the next
level. The pins have become badges of honor at CNADM
workshops. CNADM teachers use this program to establish
benchmarks for teaching students in their home studios and to
honor their students’ growth in dance.
Scholarships Give Young Dancers A Leg Up
Annually
CNADM awards to dancers over age 30 scholarships that cover
registration fees at upcoming workshops. National Ballet Forum
selects five Forum students each year to receive scholarships
to the following year’s event. And each spring, 26 students of
CNADM members receive registration scholarships to the
upcoming summer session.
Since 1997,
Chicago National Association of Dance Masters has helped nine
students complete their college education in dance through its
Annual College Scholarship program. One student is selected
each year from currently enrolled college or university dance
students.
This is one
way that CNADM helps today’s students become tomorrow’s dance
educators.
Special
Events Enhance CNADM Workshops
A “fan
favorite” event at CNADM workshops is an evening show
featuring professional dance companies, called “Command
Performance!” Each company has 30 minutes to perform and
promote itself. Afterward, workshop attendees can meet company
members, ask for autographs, and gather information about
their companies.
Once a
year, workshop attendees and their students come together at
the Annual Awards Banquet in July to honor their peers,
welcome new members, and recognize those who have earned CNADM
certifications. The association also presents its Artistic
Achievement Award to a significant contributor to dance
education. Bob Rizzo, a leading producer of educational dance
videos and a CNADM faculty member, was honored in 2005,
joining past recipients such as Ruth Page, Gelsey Kirkland,
Gus Giordano, Randy Duncan, and Charles “Honi” Coles.
In 2005 the
CNADM Lifetime Achievement Award was presented for only the
second time,
to Gerald
Arpino, co-founder and artistic director of the Joffrey
Ballet. (The previous award went to Edward Villella in 1993.)
Joffrey dancers Maia Wilkins and Willy Shives danced in honor
of Arpino. In addition, the association honored the 125th
anniversary of the Kehl School of Dance in Madison, WI. Leo
Kehl, the studio founder’s son, was an important leader of
CNADM in the early 1930s and ’40s.
Completing
the week’s events is the Student Competition. Although the
association works hard to keep the focus on dance education,
the competition lets attendees show off their best work and
receive valuable adjudication from faculty members.
More
Benefits of CNADM Membership
Dance
teachers or assistants who have at least two years of dance
instruction experience and are at least 18 years of age may
apply to become a member of the Chicago National Association
of Dance Masters. Although the association is headquartered in
the Chicago area, its members come from all over the United
States and Canada. Non-members can attend CNADM workshops, but
members enjoy reduced rates. Other benefits include
membersonly workshop sessions; discounted fees for licensing
from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC; discounts on book purchases;
participation in the Student Honors program; scholarships for
members’ students; a free video of all workshop choreography;
and accreditation from the CNADM organization.
The
Certification Program is an important tool for CNADM members
in terms of marketing their skills to their students and
parents, their community, and the dance community at large.
Certified Dance Educator (CDE) and Master Dance Educator (MDE)
status can be achieved by attending training schools,
conventions, and weekend workshops. Non-members may begin
working toward certification, but only CNADM members can
become certified.
 What
Does The Future Hold?
By focusing
on quality dance education and booking high-quality faculty
for workshops,
CNADM has
flourished. Current leaders strive to increase member benefits
and maintain the quality of workshop offerings. Because the
association is a charter member and active participant in
UNITY, its officers meet with other dance organization leaders
and remain current with trends and new ideas for dance
associations.
The future
looks bright for CNADM, its dedicated members, and their
promising young dance students. “I’ve been participating in
CNADM workshops since I was 15 and now I’m honored to
participate on the board of this organization as we plan for
the future,” states Bonnie Cagle, MDE, owner of Bonnie’s
School of Dance in Humboldt, TN. “The workshops have given me
confidence in my dance and in my life. I learned early on that
I could do, and I would do, and that everyone was going to
watch me.
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