There are nine (9) classifications of membership, each with its requirements and benefits, and each shall be maintained through membership in an Affiliated Chapter.​

Eligibility

To be eligible for Certified Active Membership, the applicant shall:

– be eighteen (18) or older;

– have studied dance;

– have taught dance as a teacher or assistant teacher (without supervision by any other dance teacher in the classroom) for a period of not less than three (3) years out of five (5) years prior to the submission of the Membership Application;

– be actively engaged in dance education;

– be reviewed by the DMA Ethics Committee to determine membership eligibility or continued eligibility of membership if the applicant has been found guilty of a crime:

– meet the examination requirements.

Examination

The applicant’s examination for membership shall adhere to the minimum guidelines as stated below:

– Applicants shall pass an examination with a grade of at least 75% in: one (1) subject of dance the applicant teaches, if the applicant teaches only one (1) subject; a minimum of two (2) subjects of dance the applicant teaches, if the applicant teaches more than one (1) subject; if only one examination is taken upon joining DMA and, if at a future date, the applicant should teach more than one (1) subject, an examination in one (1) additional subject shall be required.

Examiners

A minimum of two (2) DMA members who are Nationally Certified or Chapter Certified Examiners shall administer the membership examination(s).

An examiner may test only in the subject he/she has passed.

DMA examinations may not be administered by anyone who has any affiliation with the applicant.

Exceptions

Applicants who have passed the Cecchetti Teachers Elementary Examination (formerly known as Grade V) shall not be required to take the DMA Ballet Examination for membership.

Applicants who have passed the Royal Academy of Dancing-Elementary Examination shall not be required to take the DMA Ballet Examination for membership.

Applicants who have passed the Teachers Training School examination(s) may become members without further examination in those same subjects of dance.

​Specifications

Examinations may be given at any DMA sponsored function.

Examinations given at any National Event shall only be given according to the requirements and procedures of the designated Affiliated Chapter with an Affiliated Chapter Examiner as a member of the National Examination Committee or with the Affiliated Chapter Delegate observing the examination.

To be designated as a Certified Active C.E. Member in DMA, the Certified Active member must participate in a minimum of ten (10) hours of dance education per year. This may be accomplished through private or class instruction or active participation at conventions and workshops. The Affiliated Chapters must approve acceptable venues. Continuing Education Certificates are provided by DMA National Office and administered and presented by the Affiliated Chapter.​

Eligibility

To be eligible for Degreed Membership, the applicant shall:

– be eighteen (18) or older;

– have studied dance;

– be actively engaged in dance education for a minimum of three (3) out of five (5) years prior to the submission of the membership application;

– be reviewed by the DMA Ethics Committee to determine membership eligibility or continued eligibility of membership if the applicant has been found guilty of a crime;

– submit a copy of their earned Degree from one or more of the Affiliated Chapter-approved institutions of higher education as published by DMA.

Examination

Any applicant submitting a copy of their earned Degree from one or more of the Affiliated Chapter-approved institutions of higher education as published by DMA shall not be subject to further examinations.

To be designated as a Degreed C.E. Member in DMA, the Degreed member must participate in a minimum of ten (10) hours of dance education per year. This may be accomplished through private or class instruction or active participation at conventions and workshops. The Affiliated Chapters must approve acceptable venues. Continuing Education Certificates are provided by the DMA National Office and administered and presented by the Affiliated Chapter.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Partnering Membership, the applicant shall:

– be eighteen (18) years of age or older.

– must have successfully passed an examination for entry into another professional dance organization;

– be actively engaged in dance education.

– submit current documentation as proof that the applicant is  a member from an organization

– that requires entry by test;

– be reviewed by the DMA Ethics Committee to determine membership eligibility, or  

– continued eligibility of membership, if the applicant has been found guilty of a crime.

Examination

Any applicant submitting a copy of their membership certificate shall not be subject to further examinations.

To be designated as a Partnering C. E. Member in DMA, the partnering member must participate in a minimum of ten (10) hours of dance education per year. This may be accomplished through private or class instruction or active participation at conventions and workshops. The Affiliated Chapter must approve acceptable venues. Continuing Education Certificates are provided by the DMA National Office to the Affiliated Chapter and administered and presented by the Affiliated Chapter.​

Eligibility

To be eligible for Professional Membership, the applicant shall:

– be eighteen (18) or older;

– have studied dance;

– be actively engaged in dance for a minimum of three (3) out of five (5) years before the submission of the Membership application;

– submit documentation as proof that you have danced professionally for not less than three years in any one or more of the following: on or off-Broadway Production, in commercials, aboard a cruise line, at a theme park, or as part of a touring, industrial, national or regional theatre or dance company, MTV video, etc.;

– be reviewed by the DMA Ethics Committee to determine membership eligibility or continued membership eligibility if the applicant has been found guilty of a crime.

Examination

Any applicant submitting documentation for Professional Membership status shall not be subject to further examinations.

To be designated as a Professional C.E. Member in DMA, the Certified Active member must participate in a minimum of ten (10) hours of dance education per year. This may be accomplished through private or class instruction or active participation at conventions and workshops. The Affiliated Chapters must approve acceptable venues. Continuing Education Certificates are provided by DMA National Office and administered and presented by the Affiliated Chapter.

A member who has served this organization in the office of National President shall have Honorary-Certified Active Membership conferred at the expiration of the term of office.

The Honorary-Certified member shall enjoy all the privileges of Certified Membership and be exempt from the payment of all dues, fees and/or assessments.

This privilege shall not include any food functions.

Professio

To be designated as an Honorary-Certified Active C.E. member in DMA, a National Past President must participate in a minimum of ten (10) hours of dance education per year. This may be accomplished through private or class instruction or active participation at conventions and workshops. The Affiliated Chapters must approve acceptable venues. Continuing Education Certificates are provided by the DMA National Office and administered and presented by the Affiliated Chapter.

– Life Membership may be conferred on any member who has been a Member in good standing for a minimum of twenty-five (25) years and has retired from the dance profession;

– Any Member who receives compensation from any dance related activity such as owning an interest in a dance studio, teaching, choreographing, coaching, adjudicating or entering competition, as a Teacher of Record, Teacher of Recognition or Choreographer shall not be eligible for Life Membership;

– The Affiliated Chapter shall present requests for Life Membership in writing to the DMA National Office for verification of eligibility. If all qualifications are met, Life Membership shall be granted;

– Life Membership shall automatically cease and prior membership status resume should the Life Member again become active in the dance profession;

– Life Members shall be exempt from the payment of DMA dues;

Life Members shall be exempt from the payment of the National Convention Registration fee. This privilege shall not include any food functions.