New York State Dance Education Awards
2025 NYSDEA Call for Awards Application
Application Timeframe: Saturday, February 3rd, 2024 - Saturday, October 19th 2024
Official contact person: Nicole Bryant
Please email any questions to: [email protected]
The time has come to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding individuals who have contributed to the field of dance education with quality and excellence. Please fill out the NYSDEA 2025 Awards Nomination Form to nominate a brilliant dance educator for recognition from the New York State Dance Education Association!
*NOTE: NYSDEA Awards Ceremonies will take place at the NYSDEA Winter
Conferences. More information about the location, date, and time of our 2025 NYSDEA Winter Conference is coming soon! Applications for NYSDEA’s 2025 awards are now available.
Awards Descriptions
Outstanding Dance Educator (Pre-K through 12): This award acknowledges a stellar dance educator from the Pre-K - 12 sector of the
membership. The recipient of this award will have an established record of teaching dance in an educational setting.
Outstanding Dance Educator (Private Sector): This award acknowledges a stellar dance educator from the Private Sector of the
membership. The recipient of this award will have an established record of teaching dance in an educational setting in the Private Sector.
Outstanding Dance Educator (Teaching Artist): This award acknowledges a stellar dance educator from the Teaching Artist sector of
the membership. The recipient of this award will have an established record of teaching dance as a teaching artist through an arts organization.
Outstanding Dance Educator (Post-Secondary): This award acknowledges a stellar dance educator from the Post Secondary sector
from the membership. The recipient of this award will have an established record of teaching dance in a post-secondary setting.
Outstanding Leadership: This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated excellence in creating ideas for programs, curriculums,
and/or projects that have had a significant impact on the field of dance education and who has demonstrated leadership on a national level.
Additionally, the recipient of this award should inspire and cultivate vision and leadership in others.
Outstanding Dance Education Researcher: This award recognizes an individual who has made a unique contribution to the field of dance
education through creative and/or scholarly research. The recipient of this award should cultivate the importance of scholarly and creative research
throughout the field of dance education.
Lifetime Achievement: The most prestigious award conferred, the Lifetime Achievement Award, is given for exemplary leadership, scholarship
and/or artistry, and philanthropy or service to dance education for the past 15 years. Nominees will be evaluated in the following areas:
Diana Domoracki Kisto Award: In honor and memory of former board member and inspirational Dance Educator, Diana Domoracki-Kisto, the
NYSDEA board has established a gift to annually fund a Pre-K-12 Dance Educator toward the cost of attending the NDEO conference. Any
NYSDEA PreK-12 Dance Educator may apply.
NYSDEA Undergraduate Dance Education Participation Award: NYSDEA wishes to acknowledge the efforts of student participation in the
dance education community from our undergraduate members. (This award will be given to 2 recipients this year.)
NYSDEA Graduate Dance Education Participation Award: NYSDEA wishes to acknowledge the efforts of student participation in the dance
education community from our graduate members.
Innovative Dance Educator: This award acknowledges a stellar dance educator who develops innovative pedagogy in the dance field. The
recipient of this award will have an established record of exemplary leadership and groundbreaking teachings that have a significant impact on
dance. This can include (technology, materials, resources)
Eligibility Requirements
Nomination Guidelines
Important Additional Information
Click here to apply! 2025 NYSDEA Call for Awards Application
Application Timeframe: Saturday, February 3rd, 2024 - Saturday, October 19th 2024
Official contact person: Nicole Bryant
Please email any questions to: [email protected]
The time has come to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding individuals who have contributed to the field of dance education with quality and excellence. Please fill out the NYSDEA 2025 Awards Nomination Form to nominate a brilliant dance educator for recognition from the New York State Dance Education Association!
*NOTE: NYSDEA Awards Ceremonies will take place at the NYSDEA Winter
Conferences. More information about the location, date, and time of our 2025 NYSDEA Winter Conference is coming soon! Applications for NYSDEA’s 2025 awards are now available.
Awards Descriptions
Outstanding Dance Educator (Pre-K through 12): This award acknowledges a stellar dance educator from the Pre-K - 12 sector of the
membership. The recipient of this award will have an established record of teaching dance in an educational setting.
Outstanding Dance Educator (Private Sector): This award acknowledges a stellar dance educator from the Private Sector of the
membership. The recipient of this award will have an established record of teaching dance in an educational setting in the Private Sector.
Outstanding Dance Educator (Teaching Artist): This award acknowledges a stellar dance educator from the Teaching Artist sector of
the membership. The recipient of this award will have an established record of teaching dance as a teaching artist through an arts organization.
Outstanding Dance Educator (Post-Secondary): This award acknowledges a stellar dance educator from the Post Secondary sector
from the membership. The recipient of this award will have an established record of teaching dance in a post-secondary setting.
Outstanding Leadership: This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated excellence in creating ideas for programs, curriculums,
and/or projects that have had a significant impact on the field of dance education and who has demonstrated leadership on a national level.
Additionally, the recipient of this award should inspire and cultivate vision and leadership in others.
Outstanding Dance Education Researcher: This award recognizes an individual who has made a unique contribution to the field of dance
education through creative and/or scholarly research. The recipient of this award should cultivate the importance of scholarly and creative research
throughout the field of dance education.
Lifetime Achievement: The most prestigious award conferred, the Lifetime Achievement Award, is given for exemplary leadership, scholarship
and/or artistry, and philanthropy or service to dance education for the past 15 years. Nominees will be evaluated in the following areas:
- Impact and contributions of lifetime achievements to the field of dance.
- Advocacy for the field of dance and dance in education at the national and/or international level.
- Innovativeness of contributions to the arts and dance education.
- Recognition by peers as an influential figure in the dance or dance education communities.
Diana Domoracki Kisto Award: In honor and memory of former board member and inspirational Dance Educator, Diana Domoracki-Kisto, the
NYSDEA board has established a gift to annually fund a Pre-K-12 Dance Educator toward the cost of attending the NDEO conference. Any
NYSDEA PreK-12 Dance Educator may apply.
NYSDEA Undergraduate Dance Education Participation Award: NYSDEA wishes to acknowledge the efforts of student participation in the
dance education community from our undergraduate members. (This award will be given to 2 recipients this year.)
NYSDEA Graduate Dance Education Participation Award: NYSDEA wishes to acknowledge the efforts of student participation in the dance
education community from our graduate members.
Innovative Dance Educator: This award acknowledges a stellar dance educator who develops innovative pedagogy in the dance field. The
recipient of this award will have an established record of exemplary leadership and groundbreaking teachings that have a significant impact on
dance. This can include (technology, materials, resources)
Eligibility Requirements
- Nominees must be NDEO/NYSDEA members in good standing.
- Nominators do not need to be members.
- Nominees must have consistent NDEO/NYSDEA membership of two years or more prior to nomination.
- Student Nominees must be a current member of NDEO/NYSDEA.
- Nominators may nominate only one candidate in each category.
- Previous award recipients must wait 3 years before being nominated again.
Nomination Guidelines
- Obtain permission from the nominee prior to submitting materials.
- Submit all required information required via email, including the nomination form, by the published deadline.
- Please be sure to list the nominee's name as they would like it reflected on the award and all published materials.
- Awards recipients are invited to attend our NYSDEA Winter conference to receive their award. The registration fee for awards recipients will be waived. The nominator may be asked to present the award at the NYSDEA award ceremony.
Important Additional Information
- Most Awards include an Honorarium
- Awards will be given only when warranted at the sole discretion of the Awards Committee.
- Special consideration may be given to candidates who have contributed time and energy on behalf of NDEO/NYSDEA.
- The Committee, at its discretion, may hold interviews with appropriate persons from the candidate’s work environment.
- Nominations will not be held over for submission the following year. Only the required and suggested materials will be reviewed. Additional materials will not be forwarded to the evaluation committee.
Click here to apply! 2025 NYSDEA Call for Awards Application
