Holding up their ribbons, the Principles of Dance team poses for a picture. On March 12, the team participated in the Dance Educators Assessment of Learning (DEAL), where they earned a Division One rating. “For me, [a division one rating] shows the teamwork of our class and how we work together to dance,” freshman Sierra Thurber said. “[Participating in DEAL] benefits me because it teaches me a lot of skills and gives me a sense of determination in any type of category that I would go for in life.” Photo courtesy of Nikki Evans

Stepping onto the stage, the dancers prepare to be evaluated on all the skills they have learned this year. They will be judged on their execution of dance moves, their classroom etiquette, timing and kinesthetic awareness.

On March 12, the Principles of Dance students participated in the Dance Educators Assessment of Learning (DEAL). Hosted by the Texas Dance Educators Association, the DEAL assessment is designed to evaluate dance practices aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) requirements. The dancers earned a Division One rating.

“For me, [a division one rating] shows the teamwork of our class and how we work together to dance,” freshman Sierra Thurber said. “[Participating in DEAL] benefits me because it teaches me a lot of skills and gives me a sense of determination in any type of category that I would go for in life.”

A Division One rating comes from both the teacher’s instruction and the student’s performance. The judges look for specific techniques that the students should already know and evaluate how well the teacher interacts with students.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” Dance Director Nikki Evans said. “It shows that our dance students and teachers continue to meet state standards, and even go beyond them.”

The DEAL committee chooses the routine style, which typically includes a mix of ballet and jazz. To prepare for the assessment, the dancers reviewed key concepts and spent a day learning a dance combination as a mock assessment.

“I’m really proud of my dancers,” Evans said. “Even though the formal environment was a little intimidating, they did great. They struggled with performance due to nerves, but overall, they handled it well and made me proud.”

Participating in DEAL allows students to represent their school and dance program. According to Evans, DEAL is important for the community because it pushes the dance program to grow and evolve. In all, 142 schools across 18 districts participated in the DEAL’s assessment this year.

“Students usually come in nervous, but then those nerves fuel their determination,” DEAL Executive Administrator Sara Kerco said. “I personally love watching students light up when they get their rating at the end of the assessment.”

DEAL is designed to provide practical feedback to teachers to improve student success. According to Kerco, dance teachers in the state of Texas should participate in DEAL to make sure they are utilizing best practices in their classroom.

“DEAL gives young dancers the opportunity to grow not only as a dancer but a person,” Kerco said. “All dance students in the state of Texas should be receiving education that meets holistic standards for success. Young dancers benefit by receiving encouragement and constructive feedback. The experience builds confidence and can remind students how much they have actually learned throughout the year.”