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Celebrate the 2021 Dance Teacher Awards!

September 23, 2021

Join our friends at Dance Teacher as they honor a group of outstanding educators for their contributions to our field!

The 2021 Dance Teacher Awards will take place virtually on Wednesday, October 6, at 6 pm Eastern/3 pm Pacific. Tickets are $25. All net proceeds from ticket sales for this year’s event will go to fund the Dance Teacher Scholarship at MOVE|NYC. Register here.

Ahead of the ceremony, get to know the 2021 Dance Teacher Award recipients:

Eva Encinias

In a black and white image, Eva Encinias is shown from the waist up, demonstrating for college-aged students with a small smile. One arm curves overhead, another elegantly in front of her sternum, fingers carefully splayed. Her gaze is directed over the shoulder of the lower arm.
COURTESY NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FLAMENCO

Antoine Hunter

WILFREDO PASCUAL, COURTESY HUNTER

Karisma Jay

Karisma Jay smiles wide as she faces a classroom of young dancers, leaning forward as she demonstrates a rolling motion with her arms. She and the students wear brightly patterned skirts over their tank tops and sweat pants.
COURTESY ABUNDANCE ACADEMY OF THE ARTS

Dr. Nyama McCarthy-Brown

In a sunlit studio, Dr. Nyama McCarthy-Brown, dressed in loose black sweats and a jacket over a pink shirt, dark curls loosely pulled back from her face, demonstrates for a college-aged dancer. She moves through plié, her right knee pulling to her chest with a flexed foot. Her right arm is open at a downward diagonal to one side, while her left reaches with an open palm over head.
CHRISTOPHER SUMMERS, COURTESY MCCARTHY-BROWN

Dr. Doug Risner

Doug Risner holds a clipboard in one hand and a pen with the other as he gestures broadly. Two dancers in pastel costumes listen and watch intently.
COURTESY RISNER

Alice Teirstein

Alice Teirstein smiles as she raises her hands in the air, notes in one hand and a microphone in the other, jauntily sitting into one hip.
COURTESY YOUNG DANCEMAKERS COMPANY

Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Award of Distinction

Against a grey backdrop, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar smiles widely, arms thrown open to either side. She wears a denim jacket with colorful patches over a simple black dress and a pair of striking light brown geometric earrings.
KYLE FROMAN

Register here for the 2021 Dance Teacher Awards, taking place Wednesday, October 6, at 6 pm Eastern/3 pm Pacific. The awards will premiere on YouTube. You will receive a link to the event one hour in advance of show time.

Header photo credits, clockwise from top left: Courtesy Risner; Christopher Summers, Courtesy McCarthy-Brown; Courtesy Young Dancemakers Company; Courtesy AbunDance Academy of the Arts; Kyle Froman; Gregg Segal, Courtesy Hunter; Douglas Kent Hall, Courtesy National Institute of Flamenco

2021 dance teacher awards Alice Teirstein antoine hunter doug risner eva encinias jawole willa jo zollar karisma jay nyama mccarthy brown