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The 2025 National Award recipients were announced on 9/5/25 -- to view the announcement. This webpage will be updated with bios, photos, and more information by 9/25.
Honoring the Educator, Leadership, & Research Awardees
Honoring the Lifetime Achievement & Dance Organization Awardees
Outstanding Dance Education Researcher
Outstanding Dance Educator - Dance Studio (Established)
Outstanding Leadership Awards - Dance Studio
Outstanding Leadership Awards - Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Elise Drew Le贸n
Outstanding Leadership Awards - Higher Education
Outstanding Leadership Awards - K-12
Lifetime Achievement Awards - Living Artist/Educator
Lifetime Achievement Awards - Service
Lifetime Achievement Awards - Posthumous
Nakotah LaRance
Outstanding Dance Organizations
Read on to learn more about each of NDEO's National Award Categories in 2025.
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. The honoree will have contributed to the field of dance education at the national and / or international levels for a period of at least fifteen (15) years.
Lifetime Achievement - Living Artist / Educator
Lifetime Achievement - Posthumous
Lifetime Achievement - Service
There are four categories of Leadership Awards in the following areas: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Higher Education, PK-12, and Dance Studios. These awards are given to an individual who has demonstrated excellence in creating ideas for programs, curriculums, and/or projects that have had a significant impact on their specific 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 Leadership Award in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Outstanding Leadership Award in Higher Education
Outstanding Leadership Award in PK-12
Outstanding Leadership Award in Dance Studios
This award acknowledges a stellar dance educator. The award is granted on a yearly rotating basis to a dance educator from a different teaching environment each year. Additionally, the recipient of this award should inspire and motivate their students and have a significant impact in their school community.
Outstanding Dance Educator - Dance Studios - Established (6+ years of experience)
Outstanding Dance Educator - Dance Studios - Emerging (less than 6 years of experience)
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.
This is a new category in 2024! This award recognizes an exceptional dance organization that is either non-profit or private sector that has been established for at least five years. This organization has made a unique and impactful contribution to the community, at a local, national and/or international level through the field of dance education through creative and/or scholarly efforts. This organization has made a social impact and has a commitment and awareness to inclusion, equity and diversity.