One Dance UK's Dance Teaching Awards

The Birmingham Hippodrome recently hosted the inaugural One Dance UK Dance Teaching Awards during U.Dance 2017, announcing winners from across the dance industry. As part of its ongoing commitment to championing dance education and high-quality dance opportunities for children and young people across the UK, One Dance UK announced nine award winners of the newly-launched Dance Teaching Awards on 16 July. Dancewear Central were proud sponsors of the Outstanding Primary Dance Teaching Award. The awards were designed with nine separate categories to reward and celebrate many different types of teaching excellence. The 27 shortlisted nominees were chosen from almost 900 nominations, submitted by pupils, parents, colleagues and friends of hundreds of teachers, practitioners and dance organisations across the UK. Shortlisted nominees were invited to attend the awards ceremony at the Birmingham Hippodrome, the final day of U.Dance 2017, the national youth dance festival produced by One Dance UK. The shortlisted nominees and winners were selected by a panel of industry professionals, including Geoff Barton, Althea Efunshile CBE, Linda Jasper MBE, Carolyn Lappin and Piali Ray OBE. The nine category winners were: Veronica Jobbins, London - Lifetime Achievement Award. Sponsored by Harlequin Floors Anna Zhavoronkova, Kent - Rising Star Award. Sponsored Trinity College London Janet Marmot, South East - Above and Beyond Award Julie Guile, Saughall All Saints Primary School, Cheshire - Outstanding Primary Dance Teaching Award. Sponsored by Dancewear Central Gemma Richards, Matravers School, Wiltshire - Outstanding Secondary Dance Teaching Award Anna Hall, Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts - Inspirational Lecturer at College, University or Conservatoire Hertfordshire County Dance Teachers’ Association - Inspirational Work in Education Award. Sponsored by Safe in Dance International Charlotte Tomlinson, Leicester - Inspirational Community Dance Practitioner Award. Sponsored by People Dancing Joy Ballard, Ryde Academy, Isle of White - Most Supportive Senior Leader or Governor Award The work of all nominees goes largely unacknowledged, so through the awards they are recognised at a national level, and championed as excellent work in dance teaching and education. Following the popularity of this year’s Dance Teaching Awards, the event will return in 2018. Nominations will open in February.