When one thinks of the legendary dancer Sylvia Waters, excellence, poise, and artistry are among the first attributes that come to mind. But in the classroom, her heart, brilliance, and spirit are what have elevated and inspired thousands of dancers. Selected by Alvin Ailey himself to join Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and later to lead the newly formed Ailey II in 1974, Waters has helped to mentor and elevate countless dancers through the transition from student to professional, all the while shaping a junior company into a globally respected institution. Born and raised in New York City, Waters began […]

The Dance Teacher Awards provide an important opportunity to recognize dance educators who are making a mark in the field. Since the awards’ inception in 2003, the long list of honorees has grown to include luminaries like Judith Jamison, Jacques d’Amboise, Kay Mazzo and Risa Steinberg, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. This year, we’re excited to add four more names to that group. For 2025, our awards selection committee has chosen to honor: Lori Belilove, artistic director of the Isadora Duncan Dance Company, who trained as a dancer in Duncan’s direct lineage and is devoted to keeping Duncan’s legacy alive […]

“I love mistakes and confusion before we get to clarity and precision,” says dancer, choreographer, and dance teacher Lori Belilove. For her, the point of teaching dance is to “tap into the student’s artistic imagination.” Belilove is a direct heir of Isadora Duncan, whose students were Belilove’s teachers. Since 1989, she has been artistic director of the Isadora Duncan Dance Company (IDDC), the New York City–based resident performing troupe of the Isadora Duncan Dance Foundation. Teaching and dancing are one and the same to Belilove. “I teach as an artist,” she says. “I’m a little bit like Isadora in that […]

“I’m kind of going to go off script for a minute,” Dianne Walker says within the first minute of our interview. With a chuckle, she adds, “Like I needed to preface that.” For a teacher who is as beloved worldwide for sharing stories as she is for sharing steps, it’s no surprise that she’s eager to begin with an anecdote about fellow Bostonian and renowned tap dancer Jimmy Slyde. “Sometimes, after a show, Slyde would look at me and say: ‘Thanks for taking the time,’ ” she remembers. “Every time someone ‘takes the time’ to acknowledge your contribution to something that’s […]

A researcher at IIT-H and a classical dance, Jayachandran Surendran’s ATAM supports cross-style training by focusing on form-neutral and style-neutral dance fundamentals.

Erick Hawkins made modern dance history as the first male dancer accepted into Martha Graham’s company, but he also earned success as a choreographer and creator of the Hawkins technique. His movement was characterized by a free-flow aesthetic—one that required hidden strength—and informs many of the somatic disciplines we know today, like Body-Mind Centering technique. A late bloomer, Hawkins discovered dance in his early 20s after seeing a performance by German dancers Yvonne Georgi and Harald Kreutzberg. The summer after he graduated from Harvard University, he studied with Kreutzberg in Austria. Hawkins’ next stop was New York City, where he […]

Your journey to the stage starts here!  Starbound is giving away a travel set to one lucky Dance Teacher reader.  Valued at $300, the Starbound Travel Set includes a rolling suitcase and backpack.  The Starbound Rolling Suitcase features smooth-glide wheels, a retractable handle, and spacious compartments for costumes, shoes, and travel essentials. Lightweight yet durable, it’s perfect for jet-setting or road-tripping to your next competition. The Starbound Backpack keeps your daily essentials within easy reach. With padded straps, multiple compartments, and a bold Starbound design, it’s comfortable, stylish, and perfect for on-the-go. Whether you’re heading to regionals, nationals, or a […]

The dancer, a disciple of Nityakalyani Vaidhyanathan, performed at the Music Academy’s Mid-Year Dance Festival.

Matt Del Rosario’s life is a testament to the impact great dance educators have on their students. If it wasn’t for his mentors, Del Rosario, born and raised in Hawaii, wouldn’t have had a professional performing career, nor would he have established his Hawaii-based dance nonprofit, Flow Kākou. It all started when high schooler Del Rosario, who was struggling with dyslexia and failing academically, met hula instructor Edward Collier. “He changed my mind about what I thought life was,” says Del Rosario. Through Collier’s school, Hālau O Nā Pua Kukui, Del Rosario went on to compete at the Merrie Monarch […]