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North Carolina Dance Theatre and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Honor Dance Educator, Dance Students and Dance Champions
North Carolina Dance Theatre (NC Dance Theatre) and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) announce the 2009 Salute to Educators Awards. An awards ceremony was held at Belk Theater on May 16, prior to NC Dance Theatre’s performance of Othello. NC Dance Theatre Executive Director Douglas Singleton hosted the ceremony onstage, and the 2008 award recipients presented the 2009 recipients with their awards. Awardees and their families were honored with a pre-performance reception given by the Corps de Ballet, an auxiliary group of NC Dance Theatre.
2009 Salute to Educators Award Winners
Dance Educator of the Year:
Cherise Hill, Wilson Middle School dance educator
“Cherise has often gone above and beyond the call of duty to give the most to her students at Wilson,” wrote CMS Visual Arts and Dance Curriculum Specialist Cheryl Maney in Hill’s nomination. For the past three years Hill’s dance students have participated in the Art and Soul of South End festival performing on the Dance Festival stage and the CMS stage. She also participated in the CMS Dance! Instructional poster development and publication. Maney wrote, “She regularly works with her arts education colleagues to help them integrate dance into their performances, and she is a valuable team member at her school.
 Dance Students of the Year:
Paige Maxwell, Ardrey Kell High School senior
Paige Maxwell has studied dance for the past 11 years and has been enrolled in dance classes at Ardrey Kelly for the past two years with Dance Educator Kristen Jacobs Topolnak. “I have looked to Paige to be a role model to the other girls in class. I see them try harder, because of her,” wrote Topolnak in her nomination. Maxwell, who holds a 4.0 GPA, has been accepted into the University of South Carolina’s Dance Education program. Topolnak wrote, “I have gotten to know her very well, not only as a dancer, but as a young adult with a bright future ahead of her in the dance world.”
Edgar Padilla, Sedgefield Middle School 8th grader
Edgar Padilla has taken dance class at Sedgefield Middle School for the past three hears. “He has grown tremendously as a dancer, choreographer and production manager,” wrote Sedgefield Middle School Dance Educator Cynthia Poke in Padilla’s nomination. “I love watching him perform because he dances from the ‘inside out not outside in’.”
Padilla wrote, “I believe that dance is a way of expressing words. As a soccer player, dance has helped my agility and rhythm while dribbling the soccer ball. Modern dance has allowed me to move outside of myself and I find this to be fun.”
 Dance Champions of the Year:
James Aiken (1957–2009), Villa Heights Elementary School principal from 1990–2009
On March 17, 2009, James Aiken, longtime principal of Villa Heights Elementary school, passed away at age 52. Aiken served on Dance Theatre’s Education Committee and was an advocate for dance education. “James was a great friend and he gave so much of his time, talent and passion to support the education of our children. We will miss him,” said NC Dance Theatre Executive Director Douglas Singleton.
Carol Owen, Executive Director East Learning Community
Prior to becoming the Executive Director of the East Learning Community, Carol Owen was principal of Bradley Middle School. “While at Bradley, Mrs. Owen was a strong supporter of the Dance Program and the Arts. She encouraged numerous community performances and dance concerts,” wrote CMS Dance Educator Debbie Gresham in her nomination of Owen. By the end of the 2008-2009 school year, enrollment in dance classes at Bradley Middle School doubled. Wanting to give all students a chance to enroll in their first elective choice, Owen hired a second dance teacher. Gresham wrote, “Mrs. Owen is an advocate of dance and a fantastic example of how important it is to provide all students with the opportunity to experience dance and the Arts in our school system.”
 About the Salute to Educators Awards
Each spring NC Dance Theatre requests nominations for Dance Educator of the Year, Dance Student of the Year and Dance Champion of the Year. Award winners are chosen by NC Dance Theatre’s Education Committee, comprised of leaders from NC Dance Theatre and CMS.
“North Carolina Dance Theatre is fortunate to work in partnership with a school system with strong dance education programs, and we are happy to celebrate the excellent work being done in our community. We hope this salute helps to foster increased awareness, promote continual development and celebrate dance programs, students and arts advocates in the CMS school system,” said April Berry, director of education and outreach for NC Dance Theatre.
NC Dance Theatre’s Department of Education and Outreach provides programs that bridge the community with the cultural arts. By offering special school performances, dance residency programs at schools, teacher workshops, behind the scenes tours and community dance workshops, NC Dance Theatre gives students and teachers opportunities to learn about dance as an art form. |
