New York State Dance Education Awards
Congratulations to the 2024 NYSDEA Award Recipients!
Rusty Curcio
Outstanding Dance Educator Award: Teaching Artist
Rusty has worked for Wagner College since 1997 and is currently the Head of Dance.
Rusty is a trained dancer, director/choreographer and movement specialist working for the past 30 years in the NYC area. He has performed internationally throughout Japan, Europe, and North America. Performing in some of the greatest opera houses and theatre venues internationally, Rusty first worked as a dancer with The Ramsey Dance Ensemble then professionally with Acanthus Ballet, Humphrey Dance Company and for 9 years toured internationally with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo performing some of the most coveted roles in the classical repertoire. He also had the opportunity to perform in New York City with Peridance Ensemble and toured Japan for two seasons with Les Ballets Grandiva de Russia.
Rusty is a Certified Movement Analyst and Registered Somatic Movement Therapist/Educator. Practicing the theories of Laban Movement Analysis and integrating somatic practices into his educational and professional practices. Rusty has worked for many regional and summer stock theatre companies, performing in such shows as Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, Sugar Babies and Cats. He was co-founder and Artistic Director of Bergen Festival, Bergen County, NJ, as well as Artistic Director for the Lycian Center, Sugar Loaf, NY – Kings Theatre Company, where he created the Royal Pavilion Family Theatre Company focusing on children’s theatre and family entertainment.
Rusty was a member of the Artistic Production staff for the Surflight Theatre, Beach Haven, NJ, for three consecutive seasons, where he served as Dance Director, Company Manager, and choreographer. Rusty has created many original Dance Concert compositions as well as directed and choreographed over 55 musical theatre productions for professional and college theatres.
Outstanding Dance Educator Award: Teaching Artist
Rusty has worked for Wagner College since 1997 and is currently the Head of Dance.
Rusty is a trained dancer, director/choreographer and movement specialist working for the past 30 years in the NYC area. He has performed internationally throughout Japan, Europe, and North America. Performing in some of the greatest opera houses and theatre venues internationally, Rusty first worked as a dancer with The Ramsey Dance Ensemble then professionally with Acanthus Ballet, Humphrey Dance Company and for 9 years toured internationally with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo performing some of the most coveted roles in the classical repertoire. He also had the opportunity to perform in New York City with Peridance Ensemble and toured Japan for two seasons with Les Ballets Grandiva de Russia.
Rusty is a Certified Movement Analyst and Registered Somatic Movement Therapist/Educator. Practicing the theories of Laban Movement Analysis and integrating somatic practices into his educational and professional practices. Rusty has worked for many regional and summer stock theatre companies, performing in such shows as Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, Sugar Babies and Cats. He was co-founder and Artistic Director of Bergen Festival, Bergen County, NJ, as well as Artistic Director for the Lycian Center, Sugar Loaf, NY – Kings Theatre Company, where he created the Royal Pavilion Family Theatre Company focusing on children’s theatre and family entertainment.
Rusty was a member of the Artistic Production staff for the Surflight Theatre, Beach Haven, NJ, for three consecutive seasons, where he served as Dance Director, Company Manager, and choreographer. Rusty has created many original Dance Concert compositions as well as directed and choreographed over 55 musical theatre productions for professional and college theatres.
Carol Lonnie
Outstanding Dance Educator Award: Pre-K through 12
Carol Lonnie is a dancer, choreographer, pianist and educator with a BFA from Rutgers University and MA from NYU.
Ms. Lonnie is currently the Dance Director and Arts Coordinator at Philippa Schuyler Middle School (I.S.383) and teaches at Fit4Dance, Charles Moore Center for Ethnic Studies and Brooklyn Ballet. She is the Artistic director and choreographs for the Dreams Dance Ensemble and the Charles Moore Youth Ensemble. As a leader in the field, Ms. Lonnie supports dance educators as a professional learning facilitator as a part of the Connected Arts Network (CAN), and for the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS). At NYCPS she serves as a member of the Dance Advisory Committee, is a former member of the Delta Team, and has supported her dance teacher colleagues via the Arts Monday and the Artful Learning Communities programs.
Ms. Lonnie was a curriculum writer for grades 6-8 in the acclaimed 2022 project Journey into Jazz Dance: Let’s Swing! She has generously opened her practice at IS 183 and mentored teachers for Hunter College and NYU. Ms. Lonnie’s performing career included tenure as a Principal dancer and rehearsal director for Charles Moore Dance Theater, and performances with the New Music and Dance Ensemble in Pisa, Italy. She has danced for Latoya Jackson, Battery Dance Company, the John Parks Dance Ensemble, The Renaissance Festival, Dance Africa, Kids Thirteen and the Audelco Awards. Ms. Lonnie studied under Pepsi Bethel, Walter Nicks, Wilhelmina Talylor, Phil Black, Charles Cook, Richard Thomas and Alfred Gallman.
Outstanding Dance Educator Award: Pre-K through 12
Carol Lonnie is a dancer, choreographer, pianist and educator with a BFA from Rutgers University and MA from NYU.
Ms. Lonnie is currently the Dance Director and Arts Coordinator at Philippa Schuyler Middle School (I.S.383) and teaches at Fit4Dance, Charles Moore Center for Ethnic Studies and Brooklyn Ballet. She is the Artistic director and choreographs for the Dreams Dance Ensemble and the Charles Moore Youth Ensemble. As a leader in the field, Ms. Lonnie supports dance educators as a professional learning facilitator as a part of the Connected Arts Network (CAN), and for the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS). At NYCPS she serves as a member of the Dance Advisory Committee, is a former member of the Delta Team, and has supported her dance teacher colleagues via the Arts Monday and the Artful Learning Communities programs.
Ms. Lonnie was a curriculum writer for grades 6-8 in the acclaimed 2022 project Journey into Jazz Dance: Let’s Swing! She has generously opened her practice at IS 183 and mentored teachers for Hunter College and NYU. Ms. Lonnie’s performing career included tenure as a Principal dancer and rehearsal director for Charles Moore Dance Theater, and performances with the New Music and Dance Ensemble in Pisa, Italy. She has danced for Latoya Jackson, Battery Dance Company, the John Parks Dance Ensemble, The Renaissance Festival, Dance Africa, Kids Thirteen and the Audelco Awards. Ms. Lonnie studied under Pepsi Bethel, Walter Nicks, Wilhelmina Talylor, Phil Black, Charles Cook, Richard Thomas and Alfred Gallman.
