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A composite image with four dance teachers' headshots and the words 2025 Dance Teacher Awards written in green.

Dance Teacher Awards

Announcing the Winners of the 2025 Dance Teacher Awards!

Kathryn Holmes

The Dance Teacher Awards provide an important opportunity to recognize dance educators who are making a mark in the field. Since the awards’ inception in 2003, the long list of honorees has grown to include luminaries like Judith Jamison, Jacques d’Amboise, Kay Mazzo and Risa Steinberg, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. This year, we’re excited […]

The same ballet dancer shown in three different roles, in a long classical skirt, a black leotard with bare legs, and a silky pajama set.

How to Cast and Coach Dancers in Roles Outside of Their Comfort Zones

Stav Ziv

Screenshot of DT+ Teacher Talk with three participants.

Watch DT+ Teacher Talk: “Managing Perfectionism and Performance Anxiety”

Dance Teacher

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Artist Profiles

A Black woman leads a seminar with students sitting on the floor of a brightly lit dance studio.

2025 Dance Teacher Award Honoree Sylvia Waters Has Inspired Early-Career Dancers to Tap Into their Humanity

Courtney Celeste Fox

A Latino man stands center stage with arms outstretched. Behind him, dancers wearing traditional southwestern costumes twirls in bright, full red and yellow skirts. The background is black with bright spotlights.

2025 Dance Teacher Award Honoree Roger Montoya Uplifts Students Through Mentorship

Sophie Bress

A Black woman with short white hair, wearing all black, tap dances at the center of a circle of diverse younger dancers, all of whom are cheering and clapping for her.

2025 Dance Teacher Award Honoree Dianne Walker Has Devoted Her Life to Nurturing Tap’s Next Generations

Ryan P. Casey

A white dance teacher wearing a bright blue tunic coaches a younger white dancer in a lighter blue tunic in an expansive arm movement.

2025 Dance Teacher Award Honoree Lori Belilove Uses Isadora Duncan’s Legacy to Engage Students’ Artistic Imaginations

Tom Phillips

More Artist Profiles

Competition & Convention Profiles

Headliners… Creating a True Competition Experience Fueled by Passion and Focused on Education

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At Tremaine Dance Conventions & Competitions, “Dance Training Is Life Training”

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ROOTS Dance Summit’s Holistic Approach Is Revolutionizing the Competition Experience

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Starbound National Talent Competition Combines 31 Years of Experience With Expansion

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Technique & Artistry

The same ballet dancer shown in three different roles, in a long classical skirt, a black leotard with bare legs, and a silky pajama set.

How to Cast and Coach Dancers in Roles Outside of Their Comfort Zones

Stav Ziv

A black-and-white photo of two dancers, one cradling the other in a supported lift.

Leveling Up: Teaching Safe Lifts and Partnering Skills

Hannah Chang Foster

A still from West Side Story choreographed by Al Blackstone at the Maltz Jupiter Theater in Florida.

When Preparing Students for Broadway, Focus Your Theater Class on Character and Storytelling

Sarah Parker

Dancer Vi Dolan in a one arm handstand with the other arm outstretched by her ear.

Helping Students Prepare College Audition Solos

Kathryn Holmes

More Technique & Artistry

News

A group of adults claps excitedly in an auditorium.

Letter From the Editor: Honoring Dance Education’s Brightest Lights

Kathryn Holmes

A tall, thin Black woman wearing a black tank top and leggings stands at a ballet barre, demonstrating a ballet movement to a class of dancers.

Dancer, Educator, and Advocate Alicia Graf Mack Returns to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater as Its Fourth Artistic Director

Marina Harss for Dance Magazine

A male and female dancer, both white, touch palms of the hands with arms intertwined.

Letter From the Editor: Creating Safe and Respectful Dance Spaces

Kathryn Holmes

More News

Music

An Asian man wearing black pants and a white t-shirt stands on one leg with arms outstretched. Behind him, a group of dancers leaps with both knees bent and arms mirroring the teacher's.

Why Richard Chen See’s Students Compare His Class to a Mathematics Course

Jennifer Heimlich

A group of hip hop dancers jump with legs wide and one arm raised, in a bright dance studio.

USC Assistant Professor Tiffany Bong Uses a DJ in Hip-Hop Class to “Create Art in Real Time”

Jennifer Heimlich

Irene Rodríguez assisting a student.

Irene Rodríguez Treats Dance Students Like Musicians-in-Training

Jennifer Heimlich

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Higher Ed

A bald man in a black t-shirt points while giving instructions.

Office Hours With Dell Howlett

Thomas Ford

E. Macias dances outdoors in a field, in front of a mountain at Banff Centre for the Arts.

E. Macias Illuminates the Significance of Collaboration

Kate Mattingly

Office Hours With Kieron Dwayne Sargeant

Thomas Ford

Tracy Inman, director of the new Ailey Teacher Certification Program: Ailey Horton Technique, leading class.

Should You Get a Dance Teacher Certification?

Jennifer Heimlich for Dance Magazine

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Health & Body

A ballet dancer with brown skin wearing a leotard checks her wrist fitness tracker.

How Wearable Tech Can Enhance the Way Dancers Train

Tim Podesta for Pointe Magazine

A diverse group of dancers wearing black tank tops, black shorts, and black socks performs on an outdoor stage in the sun.

How to Make Dancing in the Heat Less Miserable for Students

Jennifer Heimlich

Closeup low angle view of group of unrecognizable people toasting with wine.

Navigating Alcohol Use at Dance Conventions

Sophie Bress

Closeup of a pair of jazz shoes, tap shoes, ballet pointe shoes, and character shoes resting on concrete steps.

How to Choose the Right Footwear for Teaching Dance

Jennifer Heimlich

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Studio Owners

A tan man with long dark hair intently watches two dances partner each other, one in a gray t-shirt lifting another in a black tank top onto their back.

How Dance Mentorship Laid the Groundwork for Matt Del Rosario’s Nonprofit Flow Kākou

Julia Mary Register

A group of dancers led by a Black woman stand on their left leg, right leg extended back, with arms raised to clap up and left.

How Dance & Bmore Artistic Director CJay Philip Connects Generations in Baltimore Through the Performing Arts

Julia Mary Register

A brunette woman shows a young dancer a leotard, while another dancer and an older teacher look on. The scene is outside.

How the Dance Community Helped California Wildfire Victims Continue Their Training

Hannah Maria Hayes

A mixed-ages group jumps and dances in a bright studio.

Luna Dance & Creativity Encourages Young Students’ Choreographic Voices

Julia Mary Register

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Teaching Resources

A white dance teacher in a black long-sleeved leotard, black skirt, and black leggings teaches a group of young girls at a ballet barre, all of whom wear white skirted leotards and pink tights.

Teacher’s Choice: How Can Retailers Meet the Needs of Dance Educators?

Libby Basile for Dance Retailer News

A black and white photo of a male dancer jumping with knees bent and arms extended to the side above shoulder height.

Erick Hawkins: Martha Graham’s First Male Company Member and the Creator of the Hawkins Technique

Rachel Rizzuto

A tan man with long dark hair intently watches two dances partner each other, one in a gray t-shirt lifting another in a black tank top onto their back.

How Dance Mentorship Laid the Groundwork for Matt Del Rosario’s Nonprofit Flow Kākou

Julia Mary Register

An Asian man wearing black pants and a white t-shirt stands on one leg with arms outstretched. Behind him, a group of dancers leaps with both knees bent and arms mirroring the teacher's.

Why Richard Chen See’s Students Compare His Class to a Mathematics Course

Jennifer Heimlich

More Teaching Resources