Colorado Dance Education Organization
CoDEO ADVOCATES & SUPPORTS
CoDEO is working hard to enhance the quality of dance education in Colorado. We are also working to increase opportunities for all students to be engaged in dance. CoDEO supports multiple statewide and national dance education projects. Below are just a few resources for dance educators and students on all levels.
Dance Endorsement
UPDATE 6/11/14: On June 11th the State Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the Dance Endorsement rules! For the first time in Colorado's history, dance educators can now pursue a specialized endorsement in Dance education! Now that the rules have been approved, the CDE Educator Licensing Unit will begin developing procedures for educators to follow to obtain a Dance endorsement. The Colorado Department of Higher Education will also begin the process of program requirements for higher education institutions interested in pursuing dance endorsement offerings. CoDEO would like to thank those who supported this endeavor! This milestone could not have been achieved without all who participated! If you have endorsement questions please contact Judi Hofmeister at president@co-deo.org
Dance Sample Curriculum Project
Dance Educators!
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is proud to present the K-12 dance curriculum samples created by Colorado educators, practitioners and teachers. In the fall of 2012 several dance educators worked together to translate the Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) for dance into curriculum. These curriculum samples offer possible options for sequencing the concepts, skills, and content of the CAS across a course or year. Together, the samples are intended to support districts’ transition to the CAS and the development of standards-based instructional practices. These curriculum samples are a rich resource for all dance educators in the state of Colorado!
Colorado Arts Education Coallition
Colorado Arts Education Coalition is a collaborative network of the four Colorado arts discipline professional education organizations, with representatives from each discipline and actions supported and advanced by each organization’s members and leadership.
Colorado Content Academic Standards (CAS) in Dance
In 2009 the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) began a revision process to improve the previous voluntary dance standards. The new design was intended to provide more clarity and direction for dance educators, and to show how 21st Century Skills and the elements of school readiness and postsecondary/workforce readiness indicators give depth and context to essential learning. What culminated was a comprehensive K-12 document in which all dance educators can access and use in any studio or classroom. The new adopted standards were written by dance educators for dance educators!
National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)
The National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and promotion of high quality education in the art of dance. NDEO provides the dance artist, educator and administrator a network of resources and support, a base for advocacy, and access to programs that focus on the importance of dance in the human experience.
NDEO forges alliances with over 150 federal and state agencies and arts and education associations to support quality dance education at local, state, and national levels in the United States and with our friends in international communities.
COLORADO THESPIANS
The Colorado State Thespians are affiliated with The International Thespian Society and the Educational Theatre Association. The International Thespian Society is a non-profit, tax-exempt honorary organization for high school theatre students. The society is committed to the advancement of educational theatre, and to this end publishes Dramatics Magazine, sponsors Thespian Festivals and theatre workshops, produces educational materials, and provides college scholarship opportunities for students.