Outstanding Individual Performance
An individual performer can be recognized for his or her performance of, or within, an evening length production as a company member or a soloist.

Anita Chen in "Dai Folk Dance , Zan Ha", at The Publick Playhouse, March 15, 2008

Aysha Upchurch in "Am I on" at the Kennedy Center's Millenium Stage September 7, 2007

Cedric Tillman in Echo Park's "Untitled" at Dance Place, March 21, 2008

Christopher K. Morgan in CityDance Ensemble's "Rice" at the Strathmore, October 13 & 14, 2008

Delphina Parenti in CityDance Ensemble's "Harmonica Breakdown" at Lansburgh Theatre, September 7 & 8, 2007

Dr. Janaki Rangarajan in "Bharatanrityam" at The National Cherry Blossom Festival, April 7, 2008

Edwin Aparicio in "Flamenco Night" at Las tapas Restaurant, May 1, 2008

Helanius Wilkins in Edgeworks Dance Theater's "If I Wrote a Note to God" at American Dance Institute, May 2 & 3, 2008

Ja'Malik in City Dance Ensemble's "Contained Infinity" at Strathmore, October 27-28, 2007

Ja'Malik in City Dance Ensemble's "Jungle Books" at Lansburg Theatre, December 15-16, 2007

Jason Ignacio in City Dance Ensemble's "Jungle Books" at Lansburg Theatre, December 15-16, 2007

Jenifer Dobbins in "Persona" at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, February 2, 2008

Jonathan Jordan in The Washington Ballet's "The 4 Temperaments by Balanchine " at Harman Hall, April 2-6, 2008

Jonathan Jordan in Washington Ballet's "There Where She Loved" at the Harman Center for the Arts, January 30-February 3, 2008

Kelly Mayfield in Echo Park's "From Within" at Dance Place, March 21, 2008

Kyra Jean Green in "Bubbles" at Strathmore, June 15, 2007

Misha Bosma in BosmaDance's "For What Was" at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, February 9-10, 2008

Oscar Hawkins in Echo Park Contemporary Ballet's "Strange Fruit", at Dance Place, March 21, 2008

Parastoo Ghodsi in Silk Road Dance Company's "Dokhtar-e Khorasan" at Gunston Theatre, June 16, 2007

Rasta Thomas in Echo Park Contemporary Ballet's "Bumblebee" at Dance Place, March 21, 2008

Runqiao Du in Washington Ballet's "Out of Time" at The Washington Ballet England Studio Theater, February 19-March 9, 2008

Stacey Tytler in Jane Franklin's "Branch" at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center , March 1, 2008

Tehreema Mitha in Tehreema Mitha Dance Company's "Dance of the Soul" at The Harman Center for the Arts, January 16, 2008

Vernon Gooden in Edgeworks Dance Theater's "The Determining Factor" at American Dance Institute, May 2 & 3, 2008

Vincent E. Thomas in VTDance's "Render & Proceed" at Dance Place, March 8 & 9, 2008

Outstanding Group Performance
A group or company can be recognized for its performance of, or within, an evening length production.

Laura Schandelmeier and Stephen Clapp's"Portals" at Dance Place, June 23-24, 2007

Contradiction Dance in "Casual Contact" at The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, April 3, 2008

Bowen McCauley Dance and the Alexandria Symphony in "Alleluia, Amen" at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center March 8 & 9, 2008

Bowen McCauley Dance, in "Fratres", at The Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, October 27& 28, 2008

Step Afrika! with Sweet Honey in the Rock, in "Wade featuring Sweet Honey in the Rock" at Atlas Performing Arts Center, May 30, 2007

Step Afrika! with Sweet Honey in the Rock in "Wade featuring Sweet Honey in the Rock," at The Warner Theatre, October 25, 2007

Step Afrika! with the Richmond Boys Choir, "MLK, JR. Tribute" at Alden Theater, January 20, 2008

CityDance Ensemble's "Revolution of the Butterflies - Excerpt" at the Residence of the Chilean Ambassador Mariano Fernandez, April 3, 2008

Jane Franklin Dance in "Branch" at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center, March 1, 2008

Jane Franklin Dance in "Soundwalk" at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center, March 1, 2008

CrossCurrents Dance Company in "...To Every Story", at The Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, March 10, 2008

CrossCurrents Dance Company in "At Last Light" at Kennedy Center's Millenium Stage, March 10, 2008

Olney Ballet Theatre in "The Nutcracker" at The Olney Theatre Center, December 7-24, 2007

Stefanie Quinones Bass & Daniel Burkholder in Dance Bethesda's,"together/apart (we go each our way)" at Round House Theater, March 8, 2008

Golden Universe Dance Studio in "Jubilant( JiaoZhou YangGe Dance)" at Publick Playhouse, March 15, 2008

Silk Road Dance Company, in "Tulips of Badakhshan", at Terrace Theatre, Kennedy Center, September 10, 2007

Golden Universe Dance Studio in "Rainbow Dance (Yi Folk Dance)" at the Multicultural Market, September 29,2007

VTDance & INSPIRIT in "Day Two" at Dance Place, March 8 & 9, 2008

City Dance Ensemble in "Broken Prayers", at Lansburgh Theatre, March 7-9, 2008

Santi Budaya in "Contemporer Spirit of the Mask" at the Embassy of Indonesia, February 24, 2008

Nejla Yatkin, Tehreema Mitha and Gesel Mason in "Together: A Three Dancer Improvisation" at Atlas Performing Arts Center, November 12, 2007

Maryland Dance Ensemble in "How Long Brethren" at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, December 1-2, 2007

Tappers With Attitude Youth Ensemble in "Syncopated Sensations" at Dance Place, December 15-16, 2007

Echo Park Contemporary Ballet in "Can you move" at Down Dog Yoga Studio, November 17, 2007

Furia Flamenca for "Martinete" at the Millennium Stage, December 13, 2007

Contradiction Dance in "Objects of Hope: The America Project", at Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, April 3, 2008

Flamenco Aparicio in "Martinete", at GALA Hispanic Theatre, December 7th, 2007

Silk Road Dance Company in "Gul Bahaar" at Gunston Theatre, June 16, 2007

Golden Universe Dance Studio in "Stamp in Melody( Han Tang Dynasty Classical Dance)" at Publick Playhouse, March 15, 2008

Contradiction Dance in "Sensitive" at Millenium Stage, April 3, 2008

The X Faction Dance Company in "007: The Mission", at The Ronald Reagan Building, July 21, 2007

Future Shock in "Recess" at Lisner Auditorium, May 12, 2007

Kankouran West African Dance Company in "Sounougal (Our Boat)" at Lisner Auditorium, September 1, 2007

CityDance Ensemble in "Unravel" at Carter Barron Amphitheatre, August 11, 2007

Aysha Upchurch's "Am I On ?" at the Kennedy Center's Millenum Stage, September 6-7, 2007

Teatro de Danza Contemporanea in "Cuatro Poemas", at Dance Place, October 20-21, 2007

The X Faction Dance Company in "Torn" at The Atlas, October 21, 2007

Golden Universe Dance Studio in "Jubilant( JiaoZhou YangGe Dance)" at Publick Playhouse, March 15, 2008

Coyaba Dance Theater in "Destiny" at the Lansburgh Theater, December 1, 2007

Step Afrika! in "Nxt/Step" the at Lansburgh Theatre, December 1, 2007

Outstanding Youth Performance
This award is for an outstanding youth soloist or group performance, for ages 18 and under. Please note, this is the only category where youth are recognized.

Bowen McCauley Dance Junior Company's "Bowen McCauley Spring Performance" at Kenmore Performing Arts Center, May 3-4, 2008, "Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals",

Dimensions Center for the Performing Arts in "Injustice Suite" at The Annabelle Ferguson Auditorium, February 17. 2008

J.O. Wilson CityDance DREAM program students in "Hip Hop Divas" at J.O. Wilson Elementary School, May 1, 2008

The Shizumi Kodomo Dance Troupe's "The National Cherry Blossom Festival Family Day" at The National Cherry Blossom Festival, March 29, 2008, "The Seeds of Hope",

The Shizumi Kodomo Dance Troupe in "Sakura" at The National Cherry Blossom Festival, March 29, 2008

Motion Mania's Diamond Youth Company in "Apologize" at "Jane Franklin Dance Youth Dance Festival," Ainslie Arts Center, Episcopal High School, March 8, 2008

Olney Ballet Theatre in "The Nutcracker" at The Olney Theatre Center, December 7-24, 2007

Future Shock DC in "Recess" at Lisner Auditorium, May 12, 2007

Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe's "By the Lotus Pond" at The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, September 29, 2007

Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe's "Passion of Snowy Mountain" at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, February 16, 2008

Maryland Youth Ballet in "Brahms Fantasies" at The Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater, October 27-28, 2007

Sarah Chang, Spencer Ramirez, and Katherine Williams in "Celesital Orbits" at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, October 20, 2007

Tappers With Attitude Youth Ensemble in "Syncopated Sensations" at Dance Place, December 15-16, 2007

Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe at the International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap, September 22, 2007

Olney Ballet Theatre in the "Sorcerer's Apprentice" at Olney Theatre Center, April 19 & 20, 2008

Future Shock DC in "Recess" at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, June 2, 2007

Joy of Motion Youth Dance Ensemble Senior Company's "Whirlpools" at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater, September 10, 2007

Anita Chen from Golden Universe Dance Studio in "Zan Ha (Dai Ethnic Dance)" at Publick Playhouse, March 15, 2008

Outstanding New Work
This award goes to a choreographer for his/her creation of an outstanding new work this season. The work can be a part of a showcase or mixed bill.

Jane Franklin Dance's "Soundwalk" at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, March 1, 2008

Bowen McCauley Dance in "Fratres" at The Kennedy Center Terrace, October 27 & 28, 2007

Step Afrika!'s "Nxt/Step" at The Lansburgh Theatre, December 1, 2007

Wolfe/Willen/MasonRhynes's in "Together" at Atlas , Nov. 12, 2007

Bowen McCauley Dance's "Carnival of the Animals" at Kenmore Performing Arts Center, May 3-4, 2008

Lucy Bowen McCauley for Bowen McCauley Dance's "Gustatory Romp" at Kennedy Center, October 27-28, 2007

Jason Parsons for Echo Park Contemporary Ballet's "Maps" at Dance Place, March 21, 2008

Golden Universe Dance Studio's "Jubilant (Chinese JiaoZhou YangGe Dance)" at Publick Playhouse, March 15, 2008

Cedric Tillman & Ann Behrends for Echo Park's "Gravity's Angel" at Dance Place, March 21, 2008

VTDance's "Render & Proceed" at Dance Place, March 8 & 9, 2008

City Dance Ensemble's "Broken Prayers" at The Lansburgh Theatre, March 7-9, 2008

Laura Schandelmeier and Stephen Clapp's "Portals" at Dance Place, June 23 & 24, 2007

Meisha Bosma for BosmaDance's "Sky Kisses Earth" at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center February 9-10, 2008

Meisha Bosma & Leah Wrobel for BosmaDance's "For What Was" at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, February 9-10, 2008

Cedric Tillman's "Ego Trip" at Down Dog Yoga Studio, November 17, 2007

Stella Choi for Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe's "Passion of Snowy Mountain" at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, February 16, 2008

Christopher Morgan for City Dance Ensemble's "Unusable Signal" at Strathmore, October 27-28, 2007

Estela Velez for Furia Flamenca's "Zorongo" at the Millennium Stage, December 13, 2007

Estela Velez for Furia Flamenca's "Martinete" at the Millennium Stage, December 13, 2007

Debra Kanter for CrossCurrents Dance Company's "Into Our Eyes" at Kreeger Auditorium, January 26-27, 2008

Christopher Morgan for CityDance Ensemble's "So Foul a Lie" at Lansburgh Theatre, March 7-9, 2008

Christopher K. Morgan for CityDance Ensemble's "So Foul a Lie" at the Lansburgh Theater, March 7-9, 2008

The X Faction Dance Company's "Torn" at The Atlas, October 21, 2007

Aysha Upchurch's "Am I On?" at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, September 6-7, 2007

CityDance Ensemble's "Jungle Books" at Lansburgh Theatre, December 15 & 16, 2007

Emerging Performer or Group
The Emerging Performer or Group Award is for an artist or group who is gaining recognition for their performance. Groups may be professional or pre-professional, and are eligible for this award during their first five years of performance.


Next Reflex Dance Collective in "New Works" at The Jack Guidone Theater, February 16-17, 2008

Shylo Martinez in Echo Park Contemporary Ballet's "Art" at Dance Place, March 21, 2008

Future Shock DC in "Recess" at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, June 2, 2007

Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company in "Bell Song" at Lincoln Theatre, October 26-28, 2007

Echo Park Contemporary Ballet for "Listen" at Down Dog Yoga Studio, November 17, 2007

Ja'Malik in "Contained Infinity" at Strathmore, October 27-28th, 2007

Aysha Upchurch's Life Rhythm Move Project for "Am I On?" at The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, September 6-7, 2007

Furia Flamenca for "Martinete" at the Millennium Stage, December 13, 2007

DCypher Dance in "DCypher IN CONCERT!" at the Jack Guidone Theater, January 26-27, 2008

The X Faction Dance Company in "Torn" at The Atlas, October 21, 2007

Aaron Jackson in Arts United of Washington's "The Scenic Route" at Dance Place, October 27-28, 2007

Arts United of Washington in "The Scenic Route" at Dance Place, October 27-28, 2007

Sharna Fabiano in "Uno" at Dance Place, March 29 and 30, 2008,

Emerging Choreographer
The Emerging Choreographer Award is for an artist who is gaining recognition for choreographic talent and work in the DC Metro area. The choreographer can be an established dancer but may be recognized in this category only for the first five years of his/her choreographic career.

Derek Brown for X-Faction Dance Company's "James Bond?" at UUMAH White Attire Affair, July 21, 2007

Dawn Hessler for Motion Mania Dance Center's "Apologize" at "Jane Franklin Dance's Youth Dance Festival," Ainslie Arts Center, Episcopal High School, March 8, 2008

Jakari Sherman for Step Afrika!'s "Nxt/Step" at Lansburgh Theatre, December 1, 2007

DaKiya Lambert for Dimensions Center for the Performing Arts's "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at Annabelle Ferguson Auditorium, February 17, 2008

Ja Malik for City Dance Ensemble's "Broken Prayers" at The Lansburgh Theatre, March 7-9, 2008

Darcy Mandell for "At Last Light" at The Jack Guidone Theater, August 11-12, 2007 and the Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center, March 10th, 2008

Justin Lewis for Tappers With Attitude's "High Noon" at Dance Place, December 15-16, 2007

Stella Choi for Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe's "Passion of Snowy Mountain" at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, February 16, 2008

Estela Velez for Furia Flamenca's "Zorongo" at the Millennium Stage, December 13, 2007

Tzveta Kassabova for "to blue" at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, February 2, 2008

Kyra Jean Green for "Bubbles" at Strathmore, June 15, 2007

Aysha Upchurch for "Am I on" at the Kennedy Center's Millenium Stage September 7, 2007

Derek Brown for The X Faction Dance Company's "Torn" at The Atlas, October 21, 2007

Melissa Saint Amour for Arts United of Washington's "Migration" at Dance Place, October 27-28, 2007

Melissa Saint Amour for Arts United of Washington's "Go With Jack Kerouac" at Dance Place, October 27-28, 2007

Melissa Saint Amour for Arts United of Washington's "The Scenic Route" at Dance Place, October 27-28, 2007

Danilo Rivera for Teatro de Danza Contemporanea's "Retazos de Vida", at Dance Place, October 20-21, 2007

Sharna Fabiano for Sharna Fabiano Tango Company's "Uno" at Dance Place, March 29 & 30, 2008

Excellence in Costume Design
This award recognizes a costume designer who captures a choreographer's vision in a creative, innovative, and wearable way.

Sasha Ludwig-Siegel in Bowen McCauley Dance's "Alleluia Amen" at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center, March 8 & 9, 2008

Jodi Ozimek in VTDance's "Render & Proceed" at Dance Place, March 8 & 9, 2008

Erna S. Widyastuti in Santi Budaya's "Contemporer Spirit of the Mask" at Embassy of Indonesia, February 24, 2008

Christopher K. Morgan and Kyle L. Lang in CityDance Ensemble's "So Foul a Lie" at Lansburgh Theatre, March 9, 2008

John Coskunses for CityDance Ensemble's "Broken Prayers" at Lansburgh Theatre, March 9, 2008

Tehreema Mitha for Tehreema Mitha Dance Company's "Classical and Contemporary Dance Program" at Dance Place, August 4-5, 2007

Future Shock DC for "Recess" at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, June 2, 2007

Daniel Phoenix Singh & Roxann Morgan Rowley for Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company's "Bell Song" at Lincoln Theatre, October 26-28, 2007

Erna S Widyastuti for Santi Budaya's "Autumn Live" at UDC, July, 22,2007

Judy Hansen for CityDance Ensemble's "Unravel" at the Carter Baron Amphitheater, August 11, 2007

Eleanor Rufty Carlyon for "Portals" at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, February 5, 2008

Laurel Victoria Gray for Silk Road Dance Company's "Desert Rose" at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, October 21

Excellence in Lighting Design
This award recognizes a lighting designer who uses theatrical lighting to illuminate a choreographer's vision.

Susan Kilbourne for Tappers With Attitude Youth Ensemble's "Syncopated Sensations" at Dance Place, December 15-16, 2007

Maja White for "Step Afrika!" at The Kennedy Center, January 22-27, 2008

Martha Mountain in Bowen McCauley Dance's "Fratres" at Kennedy Center Terrace Theatre, October 27& 28, 2008

Justin Thomas for Liz Lerman Dance Exchange's "The Farthest Earth From Thee" at Greenberg Theatre, June 2-3, 2007

Joshua Michaels for the Washington Ballet's "Cinderella" at Warner Theatre, May 8-11, 2008

Jessica Marchant for VTDance's "Render & Proceed" at Dance Place, March 8 & 9, 2008

Maja White for Step Afrika!'s "Nxt/Step" at the Lansburgh Theatre, December 1, 2007

Cathy Eliot for Laura Schandelmeier and Stephen Clapp's "Portals" at Dance Place, June 23 & 24, 2008

Excellence in Sound Design/Original Composition
This award recognizes a composer who creates outstanding music compositions for dance.

Tehreema Mitha for "Kite on the Wind" at the Kennedy Center, April 4-12,2008

Stephen Clapp for "Portals" at Dance Place, June 23 & 24, 2008

Shuba Shankaran for Tehreema Mitha Dance Company's "The Scent of my Earth" at Dance Place, August 4-5, 2007

Matt Jones and Amikaeyla Gaston for CityDance Ensemble's "Falling" at Lansburgh Theatre, March 9, 2008

John Lee and Dan Roberts for Arts United of Washington's "The Scenic Route" at Dance Place, October 27-28, 2007

John Lee for Arts United of Washington's "Muzzarella" at Dance Place, October 27-28, 2007

Jonathan Matis for Daniel Burkholder's "My ocean is never blue" at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, February 2, 2008

Excellence in Stage Design/Multimedia
This award recognizes a designer or videographer who creates an outstanding scenic environment in which dance is performed.

John St. Amour and Ben Levine for Arts United of Washington's "The Scenic Route 07" at Dance Place, October 27-28, 2007

Cheryl M. Brown for Derek Brown/The X Faction Dance Company's "007: The Mission" at The Ronald Reagan Building, July 21, 2007

Cheryl M. Brown in Derek Brown/The X Faction Dance Company's "Torn" at The Atlas, October 21, 2007

Brian Williams in Step Afrika!'s "Nxt/Step" at Lansburgh Theater, December 1, 2007

Outstanding Overall Production – Small Venue
The nominees in this category performed in venues with fewer than 400 seats, are chosen for original full evening productions this season, and include all dance genres. They are judged on the many elements involved in creating a dance production including production quality, programming choices, choreography, choice of collaborators, and technical and artistic expression of the dancers.

Contradiction Dance in "Contradiction Dance: An Exchange Between Life & Dance" at Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, April 3, 2008

Edgeworks Dance Theater in "The Determining Factor" at American Dance Institute, May 2 and 3, 2008

ClancyWorks Dance Company in "Spinning Webs" at Dance Place, April 12 & 13 2008

Echo Park Contemporary Ballet in "ART, an evening of dance solo artistry" at Dance Place, March 21, 2008

Laura Schandelmeier & Stephen Clapp in "Portals" at Dance Place, June 23 & 24, 2008

Divine Dance Institute in "Crimson Thread" at the Kay Theater, University of Maryland, June 16 & 17, 2008

VTDance & INSPIRIT in "Ideals and Isms" at Dance Place, March 8 & 9, 2008

Tehreema Mitha Dance Company at Dance Place, August 4-5, 2007

Arts United of Washington in "The Scenic Route 07" at Dance Place, October 27-28, 2007

Nejla Yatkin, Tehreema Mitha and Gesel Mason in "The Essence of Dance" at Atlas Performing Arts Center, November 12, 2007

Tappers With Attitude Youth Ensemble in "Syncopated Sensations" at Dance Place, December 15-16, 2007

Dance Asia Alliance in "Dance Asia 2007" at The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, September 29, 2007

Indian Dance Educators Association for "Dance Festival of India 2007" at Kreeger Auditorium & Thomas Jefferson Theater, November 16-17, 2007

25th Annual Choreographers' Showcase at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, February 2, 2008

DC Artist Collective in "A Showcase of Dance Diversity" at Greenberg Theatre, June 16, 2007

Divine Dance Institute in "Crimson Thread" at Kay Theater, University of Maryland, June 16 - 17, 2007

"Joy of Motion 31st Anniversary Concert" at The Atlas, October 21, 2007

DCypher Dance in "The Cipher on H" at Atlas Performing Arts Center, July 7, 2007

Kathy Harty Gray Dance Theatre for "Women in Virginia & Other Favorites" at Tyler Auditorium, November 4-5, 2007

Outstanding Overall Production – Large Venue
The nominees in this category performed in venues with more than 400 seats, are chosen for original full evening productions this season, and include all dance genres. They are judged on the many elements involved in creating a dance production including production quality, programming choices, choreography, choice of collaborators, and technical and artistic expression of the dancers.

Bowen McCauley Dance in "Rapture" at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, March 8 & 9 2008

"World Dance Showcase" at Publick Playhouse, March 15, 2007

Olney Ballet Theatre in "The Nutcracker" at The Olney Theatre Center, December 7-24, 2007

CityDance Ensemble in "Jungle Books" at the Lansburgh Theatre, December 15 &16, 2007

Future Shock DC in "Poetry In Motion" at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, June 2, 2007

BosmaDance in "Euphoria" at Rachel M. Schlesigner Concert Hall and Arts Center, February 9-10, 2008

CityDance Ensemble in "Shakespeare Sonnets" at the Harman Center for the Arts, March 7 - 9, 2008

Santi Budaya Indonesian Dance in "The Journey to the Scenery of Indonesia" at UDC, July 22,2007

The Washington Ballet in "Genius" at the Harman Center for the Arts, January 30-February 3, 2008

Washington Ballet in "Cinderella" at The Warner Theatre, May 8-11, 2008

Step Afrika!, Coyaba Dance Theater and Washington Reflections Dance Company in "Winter Heat" at Lansburgh Theater, December 1, 2007

Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education
This award recognizes an individual or organization for outstanding ongoing contributions to the field of dance through educational efforts. These efforts may include academic or non-academic dance training, outreach programs, and/or performances for students and nontraditional audiences.

Junious "House" Brickhouse and Urban Artistry for their continued excellence and contribution to proper education for youth in urban dance culture, urban arts culture and hip hop culture in several outreach programs organized by LAYC, Project mytime and N.

Rima Faber founded and directed The Primary Movers (1979-1997),a dance school in DC that addressed the technical, artistic, psychological, cognitive, and even academic development of children of all ages, and began teaching academics through dance.

Dimensions Center for the Performing Arts for excellence in dance education. Even though they are a new studio, they have been dedicated in authentic dance education, training, and performance opportunities to the youth of Prince George's County.

Miya Hisaka, ballet and modern dance instructor at Joy of Motion Dance Center. Ms. Hisaka is committed to quality and professionalism in dance education for adults and has been a mentor and inspiration to countless DC dancers.

Lorraine Speigler with Citydance at Strathmore. She's done an excellent job developing the program.

Helen Hayes for outstanding dedication to her students and her craft.

Joy of Motion Dance Centers for affordable, eclectic dance options; and incredibly talented staff.

Lucy Bowen McCauley of Bowen McCauley Dance.Bowen McCauley Dance coordinated and led a dance company at Kenmore Middle School in Arlington Public Schools in Virginia, leading to a 90-minute, five-piece performance on May 3&4, 2008

Victoria Moss, Tappers with Attitude Youth Ensemble Artistic Director for her dedication to preserve and promote tap dance as a percussive art and fostering this new generation of tap dancers - through performance, instruction, outreach and incredible choreographic opportunities - to carry on the art.

The directors of Metropolitan Fine Arts Center for excellence in dance education, fostering a love for dance, music, theater, and the arts, and for inspiring hundreds of performers annually.

Mrs.Anuradha Nehru for creating awareness of the Indian dance form Kuchipudi, and for dedication in teaching this form of dance to perfection.

Alan M. Kriegsman Award
This award recognizes a person or organization for his/her ongoing artistic or community service to the DC/MD/VA region. Nominees can be school directors, artists who have made an impact on the field, persons or organizations that have supported the dance community, etc. THIS AWARD IS DECIDED BY STEP 2 IN THE MDCDA PROCESS-ARTIST BALLOT.

Michael Bjerknes was a former Washington Ballet dancer and ballet master and co-founder of the American Dance Institute in Rockville, MD. He created the Arts Incubator Program at ADI providing rehearsal and performance space to local modern dance artists.

Alexandra Tomalonis as a dance writer and dance editor of Dance View, danceviewtimes.com. She offers insight into the artform and is selfless and hard working to assure dialogue & diversity of opinion.