TAD recognizes exceptional contributions to the field through four awards for professionals, awards for student choreography and scholarship opportunities for students pursuing summer study in dance.
*************Professional Development Award*************
The Judith Woodruff Professional Development Award. This award gives a monetary grant for professional development in dance.
TAD is currently accepting nominations for the Judith Woodruff Professional Development Award. Download the nomination from HERE.
2018 Awardee: Megan White from Franklin School of Performing Arts in Franklin, TN
2017 Awardee: Lauren Wilson Phillis from Beaumont Magnet Academy in Knoxville, TN
Margaret Martin Award Nomination Form
Submission Deadline: Nominations must be received by August 23.
The Margaret Martin Award is TAD’s highest honor. Named for one of the founding board members of the organization, the award is given to those who have made an impact on the Tennessee dance community. The Award recognizes consistently outstanding contributions in furthering the public image and accessibility of dance in Tennessee.
Candidates for this Award may encompass individuals as well as organizations, and need not be limited to performing artists, teachers, or choreographers. Candidates should have been actively involved with dance for at least five years.
Areas of service to dance include but are not limited to:
Artistic Achievement
Arts Management
Audience Development
Complementary Arts Activity (journalism, technical support, photography, etc.)
Education
Funding
Volunteer Service
2019 Awardee: Megan White, Franklin School of Performing Arts, Columbia State Community College, Maury County Schools, Franklin, TN
2018 Awardee: Morgan Fleming, Past President of TAD, Data Coordinator, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville, TN
2017 Awardee: The Tennessee Arts Commission
2016 Awardee: Amy Morton Vaughn of Appalachian Ballet Company & Van Metre School of Dance, Maryville, TN
Outstanding Dance Educator Award Nomination Form
Submission Deadline: August 23.
The Outstanding Dance Educator Award, is a peer award that honors excellence in teaching dance. This peer award honors the fine professionals working in Tennessee and also earns public recognition for the importance of dance education. The honoree is awarded a plaque at the Tennessee Dance Festival and receives free annual membership and conference registration the following year.
The Outstanding Dance Educator Award recognizes and honors excellence in the field of dance education. The recipient must have a minimum of five years experience teaching dance within the state of Tennessee, hold current individual professional membership of the Tennessee Association of Dance and have been a member of TAD for at least three out of the last five years
2019 Awardee: Stacey Perkinson, Scenic City Dance Collective, Chattanooga, TN
2018 Awardee: Thom Yzaguirre, Artistic Director of Civic Ballet, Tupelo, MS; Ballet Director at Franklin School of Performing Arts, Franklin, TN
2017 Awardee: Valeria Sinyavskaya, Artistic Director of Kingsport Ballet, Kingsport, TN
2016 Awardee: Lisa Hall McKee of Studio Arts for Dancers & Go! Contemporary Dance Works, Knoxville, TN
The Dance Advocate Award recognized individuals or corporations that were noted for generating interest in the art of dance at the local or state level.
This award was bestowed upon anyone who made a significant contribution to dance.
2017 Awardee: Kathryn Wilkening from Nashville Metro Parks, Nashville, TN
2015 Awardee: Kids on Stage Foundation of Maury County
Cathie Ault Kasch Student Choreography Project
The Cathie Ault Kasch Student Choreography Project is designed to encourage leadership, creativity, and collaboration for TAD student members between the ages of 16-22 during the Tennessee Dance Festival. The adjudicated lunchtime concert provides a performing outlet to support their choreographic work. The feedback session, led by the same faculty adjudicators, is designed to give choreographer's objective, supportive input on their work and direction to hone their abilities. Monetary awards will be given to the top three works as adjudicated on the Saturday concert.
2019 Awardees
Isabelle Torrance from Girls Preparatory School
Trinity Mease from Chattanooga Dance Theater
Katie Millican from Girls Preparatory School
2018 Awardee
Caio Godoy from Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts
2017 Awardees in no particular order
Chyna Clark from Center for Creative Arts and Ballet Tennessee
Katherine Stamey from Girls Preparatory School
Reagan Sanborn from Girls Preparatory School
2016 Awardees:
Rachel Miller & Tarrisha Hicks from Middle Tennessee State University
Trevor Edwards & Hannah McCarthy from Western Kentucky University
Reagan Sanborn from Girls Preparatory School
Honorable Mention: Jessie Faircloth from Center for Creative Arts
2015 Awardees:
Isabelle McCurdy from Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts
Emilia Stuart from Franklin School of Performing Arts
Stephanie Byndloss from Atlanta Academy of Ballet and Dance
Summer Study scholarships
Two $1,000 Scholarships for summer study are awarded each year to dance students between the ages of 14-22. The TAD Allegro and Adagio Scholarships are awarded at TAD's annual Tennessee Dance Festival. Festival Faculty Members from outside Tennessee adjudicate an audition class in ballet, modern, and jazz technique. Each winner must use his/her award to attend an intensive national summer program. Some programs attended by previous winners are UNC North Carolina School of the Arts, American Dance Festival, Alonzo King LINES Ballet School, Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Bates Dance Festival, and the Julliard School.
2019 Awardees
TAD Allegro Scholarship - Caraline Paty from Girls Preparatory School, Chattanooga, TN
TAD Adagio Scholarship - Caio Godoy from Chattanooga Dance Theater, Chattanooga, TN
1st Runner Up - Ally Ruble from Legacy Dance Studio, Nolensville, TN
2nd Runner Up - Ashlee Parker from Chattanooga Dance Theater, Chattanooga, TN
2018 Awardees
TAD Allegro Scholarship-Annabelle Daniels fromScenic City Dance, Chattanooga, TN
TAD Adagio Scholarship-Zoey Matthews from Collage Dance Collective, Memphis, TN
1st Runner Up - Leia Riehl from Angela Floyd School of Dance, Knoxville, TN
2nd Runner Up - Elizabeth Russell from Franklin School of Performing Arts, Franklin, TN
2017 Awardees
Van R. Ault Scholarship- Abigail Herron from Ballet Tennessee
TAD Allegro Scholarship- Abigail Denning from Ballet Tennessee
TAD Adagio Scholarship- Anna Mains from the Nashville Ballet
Alternates: Jasmine Blackburn from Nashville School of the Arts, Delaney Shelton from Kingsport Ballet, Emilie Sears from Franklin School of Performing Arts.
USA International Ballet Competition Scholarships: Graham Barnes, Chyna Clark, Abigail Denning, Abigail Herron, Anna Mains
2016 Awardees:
Kitty Sharp Scholarship- Rachel Miller from MTSU/ Murfreesboro, TN
Van R. Ault Scholarship- Chyna Clark from Ballet Tennessee and Center for Creative Arts/ Hixson, TN
Mary Willie Scholarship- Alayna Farmer from Kingsport Ballet/ Kingsport, TN
Alternates for Scholarships: Grace Farrell, Emily Whitehorn, Selah Tiblier
2015 Awardees:
Kitty Sharp Scholarship- Catherine Cooley from Dancer's Studio and Studio Arts for Dancers/Knoxville, TN
Van R. Ault Scholarship- Abby Fish from Kingsport Ballet/ Morristown, TN
Mary Willie Scholarship- Emma Brown from Kingsport Ballet/ Chuckey, TN
Alternates for Scholarships: Bridget Perry, Lily Farrar and Rachel Frey