Sonya Monts with her contemporary class
The National Dance Education Organization awarded its first certificate in dance education to North Carolina studio owner Sonya Monts. Over the past three and a half years, Monts has earned credits by studying online, taking 13 courses in topics ranging from ballet theory and composition to implementing the national core arts standards.
Monts decided to pursue the certification program in 2012, the year it was launched by NDEO. Taking the courses online enabled her to complete her coursework in a time frame that was convenient for her. “I was able to immediately apply what I was learning to the lessons that I was teaching at my studio,” she says.
NDEO’s Online Professional Development Institute provides dance teachers with professional development, regardless of where they live. Courses are held each spring, summer and fall. There are currently 24 different classes offered, with new courses available each year.
Photo: by Henry Monts, courtesy of Sonya Monts