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North Carolina Dance Theatre and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced the 2008 Salute to Educators Awards on May 17 prior to Dance Theatre’s performance of Romeo & Juliet. Awardees and their families were also honored with a reception given by the Corps de Ballet, an auxiliary group of NC Dance Theater.
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 North Carolina Dance Theatre’s Education Committee, comprised of leaders from NC Dance Theatre and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
2008 Salute to Educators Award Winners:
Dance Educator of the Year: Robin Clinard, dance educator at J.M. Alexander Middle School
Robin Clinard has worked to create a curriculum guide for CMS dance educators over the past several years. This year, Robin chaired the curriculum guide committee and spent countless hours developing the guide. “Robin has developed a strong dance program at her school, and she is able to reach students in her class who cannot be reached in any other classes,” wrote Dilworth Elementary School Dance Educator Melissa Current, who nominated Clinard. “Robin’s passion, creativity and work ethic make her a wonderful Dance Educator of the Year.”
Dance Student of the Year: Rose Cracovia, student at Bradley Middle School
Rose Cracovia is a hard working dance student that continuously strives for excellence. “She has an extremely mature attitude toward dancing and works hard to perfect her technique,” wrote Bradley Middle School Dance Educator Debra Gresham in Cracovia’s nomination. “She is a natural leaders and is well respected by her peers.
Cracovia said, “Dance helps me to express myself, and it also tells others about how I’m feeling. Dance has been a way for me to get through good and bad times. I can’t even imagine a world without dance.”
Dance Champion of the Year: George Koraly, West Charlotte High School
George Koraly spent the past 12 years as technical theater and construction trade teacher at Northwest School of the Arts. Koraly spent many hours working on dance performances presented by the school, as well as working on the drama, musical theater, chorus, orchestra and band concerts. “He is incredibly knowledgeable about ballet and modern dance, and was an amazingly creative technical designers for the ballets produced, including Swan Lake, Paquita, Sleeping Beauty and Le Corsaire,” wrote Northwest School of the Arts Dance Educator Susan Thorsland in Koraly’s nomination. “He was a great role model for the students involved in the productions. George was transferred to West Charlotte High School this year and he is greatly missed by the dance department at Northwest School of the Arts.”
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