Teacher Awards & Scholarships
Katherine Lindholm Lane "Arizona Dance Educator of the Year”
In the spirit of Katherine Lindholm-Lane and her dedication and contributions to Dance Education in Arizona
the “Arizona Dance Educator of the Year” was established by AzDEO in 2005, and will be awarded yearly.
A perpetual plaque will be temporarily housed at the recipient’s school until the next honoree has been named.
Criteria:
- Professional Dance Educator
- Demonstrates support for and contributes to the larger dance education community.
- Inspires students and colleagues through example, enthusiasm and encouragement.
- Advocates for quality dance education and the arts
Requirements for submission:
- Nomination email with contact information
- Three recommendation letters:
- Colleague or dance educator
- Administrator, parent, or community volunteer
- Current or Former Student
- Mentor or Professor
- Colleague or dance educator
- Teaching resume/history of the nominated teacher
All submissions are due to the Recognition Committee by December 31st! Please send all materials to AzDEOSecretary@gmail.com
***Recipients of any teacher award must wait five years before being considered for another award.
Past Recipients:
2005 Margie Romero Wolf – Dobson High School
2006 Denise Rapp – Arcadia High School
2007 Micah Kriston – McClintock High School
2008 April Leher – Ironwood High School
2009 Chaille Martin – Casa Grande Union High School
2010 Kelli Abramovich – Washington High School
2011 Kristen Little – Mesa High School
2012 Nikki Fox – Red Mountain High School
2013 Mary Anne Herding – Xavier College Prep
2014 Susan Griffin- South Mountain High School
2015 Kristen Grippo- Desert Ridge High School
2016 Rachel Wight- Cortez High School
2017 Amy Crow-Valley Vista High School
2018 Alyssa McMichael- Apollo High School
2019 Tiffany White-Mesquite High School
2020 Lauran Stanis-Metro Tech High School
2021 Fara Sadler- Perry High School
2022 Jasmine Benton-Kino Junior High School
2023 Leanne Schmidt Slater - Shadow Mountain High School
Bill Evans Excellence in Teaching Award
In the fall of 2008, the Arizona Dance Education Organization established a teacher award
in honor of master teacher Bill Evans. Recipients of the award will exhibit the following best teaching practices as exemplified by Bill Evans:
- Creates a sense of community in the classroom
- Demonstrates an extensive understanding of dance content and the artistic processes
- Demonstrates a developmental sequence of classroom material
- Presents a positive attitude which demonstrates a love of dance
- Creates an environment of trust in which students can experience change and/or transformation
- Engages students in the learning process and helps them assume responsibility for their growth as an artist and learner
- Provides multiple inroads for student understanding
- Develops in students an appreciation of the relationship between music and dance
- Teaching for a minimum of 5 years
Requirements and process for submission:
- Nomination email to AzDEOSecretary@gmail.com with contact information
- Teaching resume/history
- Two letters of nomination, which address how the candidate exemplifies the best teaching practices, identified above. One letter should be from a former or current student. The other letter should come from one of the following:
- A colleague or dance educator
- An administrator
- A mentor or professor (current or former)
- A colleague or dance educator
- Recorded sample of teaching (YouTube link preferred).
All submissions are due to the Recognition Committee by December 31st! Please send all materials to AzDEOSecretary@gmail.com
***Recipients of any teacher award must wait five years before being considered for another award.
Past Recipients:
2009 – Amanda Kinnaird – Maryvale High School
2012 – Kathy Silk – Trevor G. Browne High School
2013 – Liza Noriega – Desert Mountain HS
2015- Kelli Abramovich- Washington High School
2020-Jeanette Layton-Westwood High School
2021- Jennifer Florey-Kofa High School
K-12 Dance Education Program of Excellence Award
AzDEO announces our second K-12 Dance Education Program of Excellence Award.
This award is given to a program that showcases dance as a valid and rigorous course of study that supports a well-rounded education.
To review the criteria and application for the award, please see below.
Applications are due May 15th 2022.
Please keep in mind that you will need to finish the application in one sitting, but you will be able to edit your responses after you submit.
Please read all questions carefully and answer them thoroughly. Failure to do so could result in your application being denied.
Click here for the application.
If you have any questions about the application, please email lmonson@cox.net.
To view the rubric, click here.
Directions for the Recommendation letter, click here
AzDEO Scholarships to the NDEO Conference
AzDEO awards two scholarships to the NDEO annual conference to provide premier professional development
to promote dance educators' continual learning. The scholarships are open to any member in good standing.
Membership must be maintained from the time of application through the dates of the conference.
Student Awards & Scholarships
Romero-Wolf Scholarship
The Romero-Wolf scholarship was begun by Michelle Taylor of Taylor’d Dance in 2010 to honor her mentor/teacher, Margie Wolf. Michelle funded this scholarship until 2018. To honor the legacy that Michelle began, AzDEO is continuing to fund this scholarship.
AzDEO awards this scholarship to high school students
that are planning to study dance after high school. Students must be attending a school, a studio or studying under a teacher that is an NDEO member.
Taylor'd Dance Artistic and Academic Vision Scholarship
The Taylor’d Dance Artistic and Academic Vision scholarship was begun by Michelle Taylor of Taylor’d Dance in 2010 to honor and assist students who wished to pursue a dance related career. Michelle funded this scholarship until 2018. To honor the legacy that Michelle began, AzDEO is continuing to fund this scholarship.
AzDEO awards this scholarship to high school students
that are planning to study dance after high school. Students must be attending a school, a studio or studying under a teacher that is an NDEO member.
AzDEO Dance Education Advocacy Student Essay Contest
The Dance Education Advocacy Student Essay Contest is open to middle, high school and college age students, providing students an opportunity to express their ideas and feelings on how dance has affected their life, community or world. Winners are provided a monetary award for their school dance program. You must email both the application and essay. Click here for details
2023 - 2024 Essay Contest is now closed. Stay tuned for more information about next year's contest!
AzDEO Student Choreography Contest
The choreography contest promotes and encourages students to further their development in creating dance, and to help promote their school dance program. Open to middle, high school and
college age students.
AzDEO supports Movement Source's guiDANCE Mentorship Program
An inspiring mentorship program created and directed by Mary Anne Fernandez Herding connects young artists with working dance professionals. guiDANCE offers a unique opportunity for dance students (high school age juniors and seniors) that are considering a career in dance to connect with a dance mentor. Students can ask questions one–on-one with a professional dancer, experience a master class with the mentor, attend a performance when available and build a relationship in the dance community.
For details go to https://www.movementsourcedancecompany.org/guidance/
Welcome to AZDEO
Awards & Scholarships
AzDEO offers programs and opportunities for dance educators and their students such as scholarships and awards that honor and celebrate their expertise and the exemplary work they do.
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