Why choose NDA Staff?

“Opportunity is everywhere. The key is to open your eyes and see it.”

Being an NDA Instructor is more than teaching routines or showcasing incredible skills. It is empowering young athletes with the confidence they need to become leaders in their schools and communities. So, why do NDA Staff do what they do? Take a look at the many reasons our instructors choose to spend their summers with NDA!

“When asked why I continually choose NDA, the answer is always simple to me. I get the opportunity to be among the best staff, surrounded by the most inspiring campers. As instructors we are put in a position to give campers the right tools to be successful dancers and human beings. I get the opportunity to positively impact dancers the same way that my teachers have impacted me.

As a camper, I always looked forward to camp because I knew that my dance team and I were going to return home with a reignited passion for the sport. I knew that in those three short days we would make a conscious decision to be the best we could be. Every single year the NDA Instructor that we received as our buddy played a significant role in helping us accomplish that goal. They pushed us mentally and physically, always encouraged us and constantly reminded us of what we wanted to achieve as a team. No matter which instructor was assigned to us, I always left camp with a can-do mindset.

When I found out that I was going to be one of the NDA Staff I looked up to, I made it my mission to make every camper I came into contact with feel as inspired as I did when I attended camp. At every camp I was a part of, I made sure that I did all I could as an instructor to give the tools needed to be successful.

While keeping up with my buddy teams on social media throughout the year, I am constantly reminded of my “why.” I am inspired by their determination to maintain the standards that I helped instill in them at camp and how they are now using them to accomplish their goals. It is truly a beautiful process that I will never get tired of being a part of. For all of these reasons and so many more, I consistently choose NDA every summer and will continue to for years to come.”
— Ceirra Bonds, Texas, 3^rd year Veteran

 

“When I was a camper myself, I always looked up to the NDA Staff. They pushed me to be a better dancer as well as a better person. I knew from my very first NDA camp that I wanted to do the same for other dancers like me. I never imagined how greatly being a part of NDA Staff would impact me. Working for NDA has taught me so much including new levels of professionalism, communication skills, and leadership—but most importantly it has made me a better person. As a camper, I always thought the NDA Staff made a larger impact on me but being an instructor myself, I now see that the campers make an even bigger impact on us. The campers are the biggest reason this job is so worth it. They have taught me just as much as I have taught them. Each and every camper is so special and brings something different to camp. They inspire me each day to keep dancing and teaching. It makes me my happiest to see campers succeed and improve throughout camp, as well as in their season. Another big reason why I love NDA are my fellow staff members. They have become some of my best friends and biggest role models. They are some of the most insightful people I know and they will always willingly share their knowledge. They have helped me become the best teacher I can be and continue to help me improve. Summers spent traveling with amazing friends and teaching inspiring dancers are the reasons why I love working for NDA. I would not be the same person I am today without it. This job is so fun and easy to love that it doesn’t even feel like a job. I am so grateful for NDA and the impact it will forever have on me.”
— Sydney McClintock, Missouri, 2^nd year Veteran

 

“Saying that NDA has changed my life is an understatement. NDA gave me one of the most wonderful gifts in life—direction. In college, when I was doubting my career path choice, I spent my summer with NDA traveling to various states, teaching wonderful young dancers, and all of a sudden I knew that I wanted to go into education. Thanks to this company, I have been given opportunities to coach dance while educating our youth, and every summer I look forward to the new experiences and lessons I will gain from our special NDA summers. Working with this company has not only given me these opportunities, but it has also given me a family and some of my closest friends that I am thankful for every single day. Being a part of NDA has been one of the most impactful decisions I’ve made, and I can’t imagine where my life would have taken me if I had not applied!”
— Ellery Watkins, California, 5^th year Veteran

 

“There are so many times in life you have to take a chance. I chose to join NDA Staff because I looked up to the instructors I watched for more than four years. Not only did they care about us as dancers, they cared about us as humans. I took a leap of faith and decided to apply for NDA Staff. I have just finished my fifth summer as an NDA Instructor and I could not imagine my life without NDA. My “why” has changed over the years but now, my “why” is to see the smiles and hard work of every camper. Watching a team push themselves as far as they can go, and by the end of camp, everything comes together. They succeed as a team with everyone smiling and pushing themselves to be better for each other. That is my “why.” Every smile, every tear, every team, pushing themselves to be the best they can. It fills my heart with happiness, more than I ever thought possible.”
— Samantha McConnell, Colorado, 5^th year Veteran

 

“If you were to ask me six years ago when I joined NDA Staff what my “why” was, my answer would be to follow in the footsteps of the inspiring, motivating, and caring staff that had taught me while I was in high school. Six years later my “why” is the dancers, to be that staff member for all the dancers that I get to impact across the country. The fact that I get to inspire, motivate, and change the lives of dancers and teams is what keeps me coming back. To show these dancers the potential that they did not even know they had and watch their faces light up when they impress themselves as well as their teammates, is my why. When it comes down to it, inspiring dancers to do things that inspire them and help them grow into the person they never knew they could be, is my why. NDA Staff, better known as my second family, is also a major part of my “why.” These people have pushed me, motivated me, and helped me do things that I didn’t even know I was capable of. I have the biggest smile on my face every time I am around these humans. To have best friends in every state that I know I can count on for anything keeps my love for NDA so big. So my “why” is the dancers and the staff, both of which inspire me every day to be the best I can be.”
— Sabrina O’Dette, Florida, 6^th year Veteran

 

Are you ready to apply to be an NDA Instructor? Visit varsity.com/nda/staff to start your application today. Applications are due January 2nd, 2021!