DEADLINE for 2026 Awards: COMING SOON!

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The Maryland Dance Education Association annually recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of dance education in the state of Maryland in one of the following categories: 

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• Dance Educator of the Year – Teaching Artist

• Dance Educator of the Year – Postsecondary Education

• Dance Educator of the Year – K-12 Education

• Dance Educator of the Year – Private Sector/Dance Studio

• Outstanding Leadership in Dance Education (statewide leadership)

• Living Legacy (recognize a local professional dancer/choreographer's body of work)

• Friend of MDEA (non-dance person or organization that positively affects dance education)

• Emerging Leader (student award)

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A Dance Educator of the Year nominee must have a minimum of five years teaching experience. In addition, the Dance Educator of the Year nominee must meet criteria 1 through 6. Outstanding Leadership and Living Legacy must meet criteria 4 through 6.

1. Serves as a positive role model epitomizing fine arts dance education for all students;

2. Utilizes various teaching methodologies and plans innovative learning experiences;

3. Conducts a balanced and sequential curriculum;

4. Assumes responsibility for his/her professional growth;

5. Evidences professional commitment through involvement in local, state, and national organizations; 

6. Nominees, except Friend of MDEA, must be NDEO/MDEA members in good standing. Nominators do not need to be NDEO members.

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2025  MDEA Award Winners:

• Dance Educator of the Year - K-12 (Public Schools) : Michelle McDonald

• Dance Educator of the Year - K-12 (Private Schools) : Angela Romeo

• Dance Educator of the Year - Higher Education: Catherine Horta-Hayden

• Dance Educator of the Year - Teaching Artist: Camille Weanquoi

• Dance Educator of the Year - Private Sector: Maia DeBaugh, Debaugh Dance Company

• Outstanding Leadership in Dance Education: Temisha Richardson

• Friend of Dance: Rachel McGrain, AEMS

• Living Legacy: Dr. Susan Kirschner

• Living Legacy: Susan McGreevy-Nichols, retired NDEO Executive Director

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2024  MDEA Award Winners:

• Dance Educator of the Year - K-12: Marina Thompson 

• Dance Educator of the Year - High Education: Melinda Blomquist 

• Dance Educator of the Year - Teaching Artist: Truly Davis 

• Outstanding Leadership in Dance Education: Lacey Sheppard

• Emerging Dance Educator: Elizabeth Sterling

• Friend of Dance: Peter Dayton, AEMS

• Living Legacy: Stephanie Powell ​

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2023 MDEA Award Winners:

• Dance Educator of the Year - K-12:  Tony Jackson, Brooklyn Park Middle School

• Emerging Dance Educator: Jenna Nelson

• Friend of Dance: Andrew Moede, Anne Arundel Pubic Schools

• Living Legacy: Alvin Mayes

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2022 MDEA Award Winners:

• Dance Educator of the Year - K-12:  Laura Ward-Moran, John Carroll School

• Dance Educator of the Year for the Teaching Artist: Alex Krebs, Kinetics Dance Theatre

• Friend of Dance: Sara Shalva, Gordon Center for the Performing Arts

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2021 MDEA Award Winners:

• Dance Educator of the Year - K-12: Jenny Mossburg, Arundel Middle School

• Dance Educator of the Year - Higher Education: danah bella, Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University

• Dance Educator of the Year - Private Sector: Liz Quiñones, Kinetics Dance Theatre

• Outstanding Leadership: Jaclyn Martin, Prince George’s County Public Schools

• Emerging Leader: Kerry Johnson, Towson University

• Living Legacy: Nancy Romita, Towson University

• Friend of Dance: Jonathan Hsu, Dance Place

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2020 MDEA Award Winners:

• Dance Educator of the Year - K-12: Tricia Gooley, Albert Einstein High School – Visual and Performing Arts Academy

• Dance Educator of the Year - Higher Education: Lynda Fitzgerald, Anne Arundel Community College

• Dance Educator of the Year - Teaching Artist: Nicole Martinell, Deep Vision Dance Company

• Dance Educator of the Year - Private Sector: Jennifer Aversa, Dance Connections

• Outstanding Leadership: Nicole Deming, Anne Arundel County Public Schools

• Living Legacy: Vincent Thomas, Towson University

• Friend of Dance: Roger Wood, Towson University

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2018 MDEA Award Winners:

• Dance Educator of the Year - K-12: Serene Webber, Notre Dame Preparatory School

• Dance Educator of the Year - Private Studio: Amanda Standard, Divine Dance Institute

• Living Legacy: Patricia Enoch, The Moving Company Dance Center
   

2017 MDEA Award Winners:

• Emerging Leader: Gabrielle Stoler, Goucher College and Old Mill Middle School South

• Dance Educator of the Year - K-12: Kassi Serafini, Bates Middle School

• Dance Educator of the Year - Higher Education: Elizabeth Ahearn, Goucher College

• Dance Educator of the Year - Teaching Artist: Anne O'Brien, Dancemoves Studio of Dance and The Bryn Mawr School 

• Outstanding Leadership in Dance Education: Suzanne Henneman, Karen Kuebler, and Sonia Synkowski, Founding MDEA Board

• Friend of Dance: Randi Benesch, formerly Managing Director of The Gordon Center for Performing Arts, currently Director of Advancement at Center Stage

• Living Legacy: Dr. Helene Breazeale, retired Towson University Dance Department Chair