Kay Mazzo has been a symbol of strength and grace in the ballet world since she made her debut with Jerome Robbins’ Ballets USA, while a teenager, in Robbins’ Afternoon of a Faun. George Balanchine hired Mazzo into New York City Ballet shortly thereafter. Her extreme delicacy, musicality and sense of style inspired Balanchine to […]
Risa Steinberg has been teaching for many decades. But she still finds it terrifying: “It’s an enormous responsibility, and I take it really seriously,” she says. “I don’t mind being terrified.” To say that Steinberg takes teaching seriously almost feels like an understatement. For instance, prior to a recent class for the Limón Company, where […]
Yvonne Gutierrez, heralded flamenco, salsa and Spanish dance artist and educator, has built her reputation as an ambassador for creative connection in the arts. With her dedication to bringing tradition forward while fostering standards of inclusion and outreach, she continues to raise the bar for dance education. Gutierrez, a New York native based in the […]
Ana Nery Fragoso’s guiding philosophy is collaboration. Whether she’s teaching elementary school children, leading professional-development workshops for educators, or mentoring future teachers as director of the Arnhold Graduate Dance Education Program at Hunter College in New York City “building community and cooperation is a constant in my pedagogy,” she says. Fragoso’s passion for education was […]
“Ballet has opened doors for me all of my life, serendipitously perhaps,” says San Francisco–based ballet teacher Kristine Elliott. As she speaks by phone, Elliott is preparing for the arrival of three boys from South Africa who will be participating in a summer intensive with Alonzo King LINES Ballet, an opportunity she is coordinating through […]
Know some extraordinary dance educators? Nominate them for a Dance Teacher Award! Every year, we recognize excellence in teaching by honoring outstanding dance educators for their contributions to the field. We’re currently accepting nominations for the 2022 Dance Teacher Awards, and are looking for dance educators who: Have a unique or outsized impact on their […]
Like you, there are so many passionate and inspiring dance teachers out there who pour their heart and soul into their vocation. And in just two days, you’ll have the opportunity to celebrate seven of these extraordinary educators with our much-loved 2021 virtual Dance Teacher Awards. After reviewing thousands of nominations, we’re honoring the largest […]
If you missed the 2021 Dance Teacher Awards, or want to relive your favorite moments, tune in now to watch on demand here. Last night, the 2021 Dance Teacher Awards made history—twice! First, for celebrating seven remarkable artists, the largest group ever to be honored. And second, for being the most inspiring virtual room I’ve ever been […]
Jawole Willa Jo Zollar continues to shape an empowered generation of dancers, cultivating their unique “sound” while encouraging their involvement in civic engagement and organizing.
When Eva Encinias was hired by the University of New Mexico as an adjunct lecturer, there was no fully developed flamenco program within a university dance department anywhere in the U.S. Not only did she succeed in growing such a program, but she has also, over the last 45 years, cultivated a thriving flamenco community in Albuquerque and reinforced America’s presence on the global flamenco stage.