Criteria will be presented for rigorous choreographic practices such as music interpretation, use of space, interactions with surroundings, symbolism and meaning, costuming, interactions among the dancers, dance technique, use of proper step vocabulary, use of music/musicians, and overall message of the work. Dance reconstruction is especially challenging because much research must be done, depending on the era in question. Dance styles and step vocabularies have changed greatly over time. One must study the culture and social elements of the society in which the pieces were performed, as well as costuming, theatricality, lighting, sound, etc. - even the slightest change in shoes can make a difference. A detailed study of the appropriate musical forms and practices is crucial when reconstructing historical dances and this usually takes many years of study. An historical dance choreographer/reconstructor will most likely have been studying for several years before even attempting to present something for the public. Once the research has begun, the learning of the step vocabulary must commence. This also takes many years of study to try to understand how the steps would have been performed, and how the dances would have looked. The original sources for the Renaissance dances are in Italian and French, so one must be knowledgeable in languages as well. French Baroque dances are sometimes written in an early form of notation called Feuillet notation, which is rather difficult to master, so these dances present their own problems. All manners of etiquette and social custom must be understood. Once one feels relatively comfortable with all these components of reconstruction, then the dance begins to take shape, but not before. It is therefore crucial that this type of work, choreography and/or reconstruction, be given due credit as a legitimate form of research and scholarship. Keyword(s): college level issues, dance, research