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MDEA AWARDS

DEADLINE for 2026 Award Nominations: JUNE 22, 2026

DEADLINE for 2026 Nominee Materials: AUGUST 14, 2026

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:

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)

MDEA Award Nominations: Awards are open to the public; nominators do not need to be NDEO/MDEA members. Nominations can be made by any individual and MDEA Members may self-nominate for consideration for one of the MDEA Awards. Nominees/Awardees must be members of NDEO/MDEA, except for the Friend of MDEA award.

Eligibility & Membership:

General Requirement: All nominees and awardees must be NDEO/MDEA members in good standing, with the exception of the "Friend of MDEA" award.
Dance Educator of the Year: Must have a minimum of five years of teaching experience and meet Criteria 1–6.
Outstanding Leadership & Living Legacy: Must meet Criteria 4–6.

Criteria:

Serves as a positive role model epitomizing fine arts dance education for all students;
Utilizes various teaching methodologies and plans innovative learning experiences;
Conducts a balanced and sequential curriculum;
Assumes responsibility for his/her professional growth;
Evidences professional commitment through involvement in local, state, and national organizations;
Nominees, except Friend of MDEA, must be NDEO/MDEA members in good standing. Nominators do not need to be NDEO members.

Important Next Steps Upon nomination: MDEA will notify the nominee. If they choose to accept, all required application materials must be submitted by August 14, 2026.

Required Application Materials:

CV or Resume: Maximum of two pages.
Reflection Response: A completed response to the MDEA reflection prompt.
Two Letters of Recommendation:
- Letter 1: From an NDEO/MDEA member or outside professional who can speak to the nominee’s impact at the state, national, or international level.
- Letter 2: A letter from a current or former student or colleague detailing the nominee’s direct impact on the field of dance.

Any questions, please email: info@mddanceed.org.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nomination Form