National Dance Association

The National Dance Association (NDA), was an association of SHAPE America (originally titled American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) (AAHPERD). It was one of the oldest dance education organizations, and developed programs, published books and materials, and sponsored professional development conferences for dance educators in a broad range of disciplines. It also functioned as an arts advocacy organization.

NDA was first known as the National Section on Dance and was officially recognized in 1932 with Helen Norman Smith as Chair. It was elevated to Divisional status in 1965 and nine years later became the National Dance Association within the newly renamed American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). By 1989, its membership had grown to nearly three thousand. In 2013, NDA was dissolved as AAHPERD became one unified organization and changed its name to SHAPE America (Society of Health and Physical Education).