Be it pedagogy, advocacy, or promotion of dance, NDS members make important contributions to the discipline. We have developed the following awards to recognize these contributions and encourage members to make nominations during the nomination period.
If you wish to nominate a member for any of our awards listed below, please complete our online awards nomination form. Once the completed application form is received, and membership is verified by the executive director, it is sent to the awards committee chair. Nominations are due by September 1.
Questions should be sent to the Awards Chair, Christa Davis.
Award Categories
2022 National Dance Society Award Recipients!
Texas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance 2022 NDS Dance Advocate Award The National Dance Society acknowledges and appreciates the many contributions [...]
Dance Council of North Texas 2022 NDS Dance Advocate Award We acknowledge our partner organization, the Dance Council of North Texas for all the [...]
Barbara McAlister 2022 NDS Graduate Dance Excellence Award Barbara McAlister is a “ A trans-disciplinary artist, scholar, educator, and activist…”advocating for movement everywhere; she [...]
Chely Young 2022 NDS Young Professional Award Chely Young is an adventurer in the dance world; seeking opportunities to grow, learn, and enhance the [...]
Elizabeth Jones-Boswell 2022 NDS Dance Promotion Award Recipient Elizabeth Jones-Bowell is a nationally recognized Master Pilates Teacher, Movement Therapist and Author. Serving her community, [...]
Dr. Terry Sweeting 2022 NDS Dance Scholar Award Recipient Dr. Terry Sweeting is a complete advocate for dance education and has advanced dance education [...]
Dr. Barbara Michiels Hernandez 2022 National Dance Society Dance Scholar Award Dr. Hernandez has consistently demonstrated her love of dance through her national and [...]
Dr. Cynthia (Cindy) Herndon 2022 NDS Dance Honor Award Recipient Dr. Cynthia (Cindy) Herndon is a dance educator, emerita professor from the University of [...]
Dr. Fran Anthony Meyer 2022 National Dance Society Legacy Award Dr. Meyer is a person of many passions and is a life-long learner with [...]
Dr. Gayle Kassing 2022 National Dance Society Legacy Award Dr. Gayle Kassing is the consummate professional in the dance field across a broad range—from [...]
Past National Dance Society Award Recipients!
Dr. Nancy Kane received the Dance Scholar Award! Called a "leader and trendsetter" by Dance Teacher magazine, Nancy Kane has enjoyed international success as [...]
Ms. Ronelle Eddings received the P-12 Master Dance Educator of the Year! Ronelle Jock Eddings is currently a Director of Dance at Creekview [...]
Mr. John Fracchia received the Dance Honor Award! John Fracchia (Fray-Shuh) is an educator, author, film artist, and advocate who works at Ithaca College [...]
Ms. Gladys M. Keeton received the Dance Legacy Award! Gladys M. Keeton has served the dance profession for fifty plus years and remains active [...]
Ms. Karen Smith received the Global Dance Educator Award!
Karen Lynn Smith retired in 2013 as professor from Washington College in Chestertown, MD. Over 45 years she taught dance and physical education, developed the dance program, designed and implemented the dance minor, and directed the dance company. She has […]Ms. Pamella Washburn received the P-12 Master Dance Educator Award.
Pamella Washburn received her BFA in dance, with an emphasis in ballet, from William Woods College. During her senior year, she completed an internship with the Lexington Ballet Company in Kentucky. She also received a gifted education endorsement from […]Ms. Lacreacia Sanders received the College/University Master Dance Educator Award!
Lacreacia Sanders is an associate professor of dance at Tarrant County College Northwest and has been a dance educator for over 20 years. She holds an M.F.A. in dance from Texas Woman’s University and a B.E.S.S. in dance from […]Ms. Judy Marks Clark received the Dance Honor Award!
After 30+ years in public education, Judy Clark is currently a self-employed consultant. She earned her BS degree in health and physical education from Madison College, where she got her start in dance through the Modern Dance Ensemble and the […]
Ms. Allison Wilkins received the Undergraduate Dance Excellence Award!
Ms. Allison Wilkins is a senior at Washington College and has been dancing since the age of three. Her love of dance started with ballet and soon expanded into multiple, different areas including jazz, contemporary, and modern. Throughout […]Dr. Kelly Hendrick received the Dance Advocate Award!
Dr. Kelly Hedrick has been principal at the Edward E. Brickell Academy for Art and Advanced Academics at Old Donation School for ten years. Although her career demonstrates tremendous support for dance and the other arts, she has been a great […]Ms. Cheryl Stafford received the Dance Promotion in the Community Award!
Ms. Cheryl Stafford, founder and artistic director of The Court Dancers for 30 years, is a professional dancer, singer, director and choreographer, and has been researching, performing and teaching historical dance since 1978. Classically trained in ballet, modern […]Ms. Teresa Osborn received the Dance Promotion in the Community Award!
Born in England, Ms. Teresa Osborn received her early education and dance training there. She taught, lectured, adjudicated competitions, and organized dance holidays at the Spencer Dance Center: Disco-Jazz, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Country Western, Latin, Ballroom, and Freestyle. […]Ms. Bonnie Baker Richardson received the P-12 Master Dance Educator in Physical Education!
Ms. Bonnie Baker Richardson received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a masters + 30 from Louisiana State University (LSU). She has taught K-12 physical education for 35 years in Acadia and East Baton Rouge Parish […]Dr. Rebecca Clark received the P-12 Master Dance Educator Award!
Ms. Rebecca Clark earned a BFA in dance performance and education from Towson University and a MS degree in curriculum and instruction with a focus on administration from McDaniel College. She has taught 19 years in the Maryland Public […]Dr. Lisa O’Dear Lewis received the College/University Master Educator Award!
Dr. Lisa O’Dear Lewis is a full professor in Health and Human Performance at Austin Peay State University (APSU). She received a B.S. in physical education with a dance minor, a M.S in wellness and fitness at Middle Tennessee […]Dr. Mary Ann Laverty received the Dance Honor Award!
Dr. Laverty is currently a Dance Specialist for Virginia Beach City Public Schools Gifted Dance Education Program. Prior to this, she was Director of Dance at Woodside High School (Newport News, VA) for fifteen years and a full-time Assistant Professor […]
Dr. Judy Patterson Wright received the Dance Scholar Award!
Judy Patterson Wright earned her PhD in 1981 in motor learning and motor development from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where she focused on the learning process for sequential dance skills and how teachers may facilitate the learning process. She […]BJ Santos received the P-12 Master Dance Educator of the Year in Physical Education!
physical activity and a safe learning environment fAfter naming her “Bette Jean” no middle name, her mother decided to call her BJ. She teaches at a non-traditional Charter School campus – Murray High School and […]Ms. Inez Howard received the Dance Legacy Award!
Inez Howard is a native of Camden, South Carolina. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education from North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina and the Master’s Degree in Dance Education from Columbia University.
She completed […]
Ms. Keisha Breaker received the Dance Promotion in the Community Award!
Keisha Breaker is a professional dancer and choreographer with 24 years of experience; she is currently utilizing her Bachelor’s degree in dance from Texas Woman’s University and her advanced, graduate-level training from the Alvin Ailey School of Dance […]Ms. Gayanne Grossman received the Dance Advocate Award!
Gayanne Grossman currently works as a physical therapist and educator at the Lehigh Valley Hospital Network, Performing Arts Medicine Program, and is the Director of Dance Wellness at Muhlenberg College. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Modern Dance and a […]Dr. Christa A. Davis received the College/University Master Dance Educator of the Year Award!
Dr. Christa A. Davis (aka Momma Storm) is an assistant professor of kinesiology at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. She received a B.S. at Washington State University in Athletic Training, and Physical Education with a dance […]
Ms. Marian Simpson received the Dance Legacy Award!
Marian Simpson began her teaching career in 1955 at Daniel Webster High School, Tulsa, OK, after earning a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State College, Tahlequah, OK. She later completed a MA from Texas Woman’s University, which led to her position at […]