Awards

The Wisconsin Dance Council honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to dance in the State of Wisconsin by recognizing them at a ceremony held biennially.
Any Wisconsin Dance Council member in good standing can nominate someone for consideration.
Nominations are currently being accepted until December 15, 2020, for the 2021 ceremony.
In order to be considered for a Wisconsin Dance Council Award in 2021, the following materials must be submitted to the Wisconsin Dance Council by December 15, 2020.
Awards

The Wisconsin Dance Council honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to dance in the State of Wisconsin by recognizing them at a ceremony held biennially.
Any Wisconsin Dance Council member in good standing can nominate someone for consideration.
Nominations are currently being accepted until December 15, 2020, for the 2021 ceremony.
In order to be considered for a Wisconsin Dance Council Award in 2021, the following materials must be submitted to the Wisconsin Dance Council by December 15, 2020.
Nomination Requirements
The person being nominated for an award is required to submit a brief biographical summary, a curriculum vita and/or resume, and “head shot” photograph and at least three additional photographs of the nominee teaching, performing, or volunteering.
The biography and resume will be shared with the individuals that are writing the letters of recommendation.
The Wisconsin Dance Council member making the nomination fills out the Wisconsin Dance Council Award Nomination Form, writes a letter of recommendation, and submits the Nomination Form and the recommendation letter at the same time.
Two additional letters of recommendation from Wisconsin Dance Council members in good standing are required (minimum of three total letters to be considered–one letter from the person sending in the Nomination Form and at least two additional letters).
Additional material as requested if the nominee will be honored.
Send Nomination Materials to:
Who:
Wisconsin Dance Council Award Ceremony Committee
Address:
Post Office Box 1082
Sheboygan, WI 53082-1082
E-mail:
Nomination Requirements
The person being nominated for an award is required to submit a brief biographical summary, a curriculum vita and/or resume, and “head shot” photograph and at least three additional photographs of the nominee teaching, performing, or volunteering.
The biography and resume will be shared with the individuals that are writing the letters of recommendation.
The Wisconsin Dance Council member making the nomination fills out the Wisconsin Dance Council Award Nomination Form, writes a letter of recommendation, and submits the Nomination Form and the recommendation letter at the same time.
Two additional letters of recommendation from Wisconsin Dance Council members in good standing are required (minimum of three total letters to be considered–one letter from the person sending in the Nomination Form and at least two additional letters).
Additional material as requested if the nominee will be honored.
Send Nomination Materials to:
Who:
Wisconsin Dance Council Award Ceremony Committee
Address:
Post Office Box 1082
Sheboygan, WI 53082-1082
E-mail:
Nominations for Wisconsin Dance Council Awards
Since 1984, Wisconsin Dance Council has honored groups and individuals for their contributions to dance in Wisconsin.
Our Biennial Award Ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2020. Now is the time to nominate potential awardees for the 2020 event!
Do you know someone that is making or has made significant contributions to dance in Wisconsin? Please nominate them for one of the following WDC Awards.
Wisconsin Dance Council Award Categories
Distinction is awarded to an outstanding person, group of individuals, or organization who has made significant contributions to the advancement of dance.
Margaret H’Doubler is awarded to an individual for his/her outstanding contribution as a teacher/educator in the field of dance.
Choreography/Performance is awarded to a devoted outstanding choreographer or performer who has exemplified his/her abilities through his/her works.
Research and Journalism is awarded to a person who has made a significant contribution to dance through research and journalism.
Lifetime Achievement is awarded to a person whose life has centered on dance as a performer or educator enriching Wisconsin’s Dance Heritage.
Career Recognition is awarded to a person whose diverse dance contributions (such as organization, involvement, leadership, choreographer, performer, educator, and innovator) have changed the future of dance in Wisconsin.
Friend of Dance is awarded to a supporter who has furthered dance opportunities through their voluntary efforts.

Nominations for Wisconsin Dance Council Awards
Since 1984, Wisconsin Dance Council has honored groups and individuals for their contributions to dance in Wisconsin.
Our Biennial Award Ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2020. Now is the time to nominate potential awardees for the 2020 event!
Do you know someone that is making or has made significant contributions to dance in Wisconsin? Please nominate them for one of the following WDC Awards.
Wisconsin Dance Council Award Categories
Distinction is awarded to an outstanding person, group of individuals, or organization who has made significant contributions to the advancement of dance.
Margaret H’Doubler is awarded to an individual for his/her outstanding contribution as a teacher/educator in the field of dance.
Choreography/Performance is awarded to a devoted outstanding choreographer or performer who has exemplified his/her abilities through his/her works.
Research and Journalism is awarded to a person who has made a significant contribution to dance through research and journalism.
Lifetime Achievement is awarded to a person whose life has centered on dance as a performer or educator enriching Wisconsin’s Dance Heritage.
Career Recognition is awarded to a person whose diverse dance contributions (such as organization, involvement, leadership, choreographer, performer, educator, and innovator) have changed the future of dance in Wisconsin.
Friend of Dance is awarded to a supporter who has furthered dance opportunities through their voluntary efforts.

Wisconsin Dance Council Award Recipients
Name |
Category |
Year |
---|---|---|
Robert Cleary |
Career Recognition | 2009 |
Carol Klongland*, |
Lifetime Achievement | 2009 |
A.A. Leath* |
Margaret H’Doubler | 2009 |
Susanne Carter, |
Career Recognition | 2010 |
Jeanne Ferraro |
Lifetime Achievement | 2010 |
Jo Jean Retrum |
Distinction | 2010 |
Nikki Balsamo, |
Recognition of New Leadership | 2011 |
Mary Maloney Innes |
Distinction | 2011 |
Maureen Janson |
Choreography/Performance | 2011 |
Coleen Kehl |
Lifetime Achievement | 2011 |
Dori Regnier Weigel |
Friend of Dance | 2011 |
Dance Masters of Wisconsin, |
Distinction | 2015 |
Debra Loewen |
Career Recognition | 2015 |
Bernadine “Bernie” Matzke* |
Lifetime Achievement | 2015 |
Simone Linhares Ferro |
Career Recognition | 2016 |
Jennifer Janus Hiltbrand |
Distinction | 2016 |
Tori Rogoski-Rutta |
Margaret H’Doubler | 2016 |
Tania Tandias |
Choreography/Performance | 2016 |
Mary Katic, |
Career Recognition | 2018 |
Dani Kuepper |
Choreography/Performance | 2018 |
Marlene Skog |
Distinction | 2018 |
Roger White |
Lifetime Achievement | 2018 |
Name |
Category |
Year |
---|---|---|
Barry Lynn, |
Lifetime Achievement | 1997 |
Susan Gingrasso, |
Career Recognition | 1997 |
Ellen Moore |
Margaret H’Doubler | 1997 |
Margot Mink Colbert |
Choreography/Performance | 1997 |
Susan Munson* |
Friend of Dance | 1997 |
Jean Wolfmeyer, |
Lifetime Achievement | 1998 |
Marcia Parsons |
Career Recognition | 1998 |
Liza Brown* |
Margaret H’Doubler | 1998 |
Claudia Melrose |
Distinction | 1998 |
Carol Marion Ceniti |
Recognition of New Leadership | 1998 |
Hermine Davidson* |
Lifetime Achievement | 1999 |
Lisa Andrea Thurrell |
Choreography/Performance | 1999 |
Deborah Arnold, |
Career Recognition | 1999 |
Jo Jean Kehl Janus, |
Distinction | 1999 |
Julia Brown* |
Friend of Dance | 1999 |
Virgilyn Driscoll |
Distinction | 2000 |
Lonny Joseph Gordon |
Choreography/Performance | 2000 |
Peggy Rosenzweig, |
Friend of Dance | 2000 |
Michael Doran |
Distinction | 2001 |
Peggy Myo-Young Choy |
Choreography/Performance | 2001 |
Harv Thompson |
Friend of Dance | 2001 |
Virginia Davis |
Lifetime Achievement | 2001 |
Bess Zana |
Career Recognition | 2001 |
Marcia Fellows |
Lifetime Achievement | 2002 |
Rena Kornblum |
Research and Journalism | 2002 |
James Moore |
Career Recognition | 2002 |
Robin Pettersen |
Distinction | 2002 |
Joan Mills |
Margaret H’Doubler | 2003 |
Jin-Wen Yu |
Choreography/Performance | 2003 |
Carol Hoehn |
Lifetime Achievement | 2003 |
John Gesinski* |
Friend of Dance | 2003 |
Nan Gilbert Dwyer |
Distinction | 2003 |
Jean Adams* |
Lifetime Achievement | 2004 |
Kristanne Connolly |
Choreography/Performance | 2004 |
Gerri Gurman |
Distinction | 2004 |
Ginny O’Brien* |
Friend of Dance | 2004 |
Doug Kane |
Career Recognition | 2005 |
Gertrude Delorit |
Lifetime Achievement | 2005 |
Li Chiao-Ping |
Choreography/Performance | 2005 |
Mary Belle Potter, |
Lifetime Achievement | 2005 |
Evelyn Smith*, |
Career Recognition | 2005 |
W. Earle Smith |
Recognition of New Leadership | 2005 |
Karen Cowan |
Margaret H’Doubler | 2006 |
Mary Jane Van Duyse Sorgel |
Lifetime Achievement | 2006 |
Betty Hayes-Baxter |
Career Recognition | 2008 |
Kay Kuester-Doran |
Lifetime Achievement | 2008 |
Janet Lilly, |
Choreography/Performance | 2008 |
Name |
Category |
Year |
---|---|---|
Louise Kloepper* |
Uncategorized | 1984 |
Ferne Caulker-Bronson |
Uncategorized | 1986 |
Betty Salamun |
Uncategorized | 1987 |
Virginia Weiler* |
Uncategorized | 1988 |
Mary Elliott |
Uncategorized | 1989 |
Christine Stevens Jezewska |
Uncategorized | 1990 |
Jane Farwell* |
Uncategorized | 1991 |
Curtis Carter |
Uncategorized | 1992 |
Deborah Thomas |
Uncategorized | 1992 |
Jim Sullivan |
Uncategorized | 1992 |
Edward L. Kamarck* |
Uncategorized | 1992 |
Donna Peckett |
Uncategorized | 1992 |
Ginka Cohn* |
Uncategorized | 1992 |
Cecelia Brown* |
Uncategorized | 1993 |
Mary Thurrell |
Uncategorized | 1994 |
Bernadine Kunkel* |
Distinction | 1995 |
Eileen Muth* |
Margaret H’Doubler | 1995 |
Judith Benade |
Choreography/Performance | 1995 |
Cate Deicher |
Recognition of New Leadership | 1995 |
Mary Alice “Buff” Brennan |
Research and Journalism | 1995 |
Waltraud Karkar, |
Distinction | 1996 |
Anna Nassif |
Margaret H’Doubler | 1996 |
Charles Carell*, |
Lifetime Achievement | 1996 |
Timothy Josephs |
Recognition of New Leadership | 1996 |
Mercedes Fernandes, |
Career Recognition | 1996 |
Diana Cottam* |
Friend of Dance | 1996 |
Wisconsin Dance Council Award Recipients
Name |
Category |
Year |
---|---|---|
Robert Cleary |
Career Recognition | 2009 |
Carol Klongland*, |
Lifetime Achievement | 2009 |
A.A. Leath* |
Margaret H’Doubler | 2009 |
Susanne Carter, |
Career Recognition | 2010 |
Jeanne Ferraro |
Lifetime Achievement | 2010 |
Jo Jean Retrum |
Distinction | 2010 |
Nikki Balsamo, |
Recognition of New Leadership | 2011 |
Mary Maloney Innes |
Distinction | 2011 |
Maureen Janson |
Choreography/Performance | 2011 |
Coleen Kehl |
Lifetime Achievement | 2011 |
Dori Regnier Weigel |
Friend of Dance | 2011 |
Dance Masters of Wisconsin, |
Distinction | 2015 |
Debra Loewen |
Career Recognition | 2015 |
Bernadine “Bernie” Matzke* |
Lifetime Achievement | 2015 |
Simone Linhares Ferro |
Career Recognition | 2016 |
Jennifer Janus Hiltbrand |
Distinction | 2016 |
Tori Rogoski-Rutta |
Margaret H’Doubler | 2016 |
Tania Tandias |
Choreography/Performance | 2016 |
Mary Katic, |
Career Recognition | 2018 |
Dani Kuepper |
Choreography/Performance | 2018 |
Marlene Skog |
Distinction | 2018 |
Roger White |
Lifetime Achievement | 2018 |
Name |
Category |
Year |
---|---|---|
Barry Lynn, |
Lifetime Achievement | 1997 |
Susan Gingrasso, |
Career Recognition | 1997 |
Ellen Moore |
Margaret H’Doubler | 1997 |
Margot Mink Colbert |
Choreography/Performance | 1997 |
Susan Munson* |
Friend of Dance | 1997 |
Jean Wolfmeyer, |
Lifetime Achievement | 1998 |
Marcia Parsons |
Career Recognition | 1998 |
Liza Brown* |
Margaret H’Doubler | 1998 |
Claudia Melrose |
Distinction | 1998 |
Carol Marion Ceniti |
Recognition of New Leadership | 1998 |
Hermine Davidson* |
Lifetime Achievement | 1999 |
Lisa Andrea Thurrell |
Choreography/Performance | 1999 |
Deborah Arnold, |
Career Recognition | 1999 |
Jo Jean Kehl Janus, |
Distinction | 1999 |
Julia Brown* |
Friend of Dance | 1999 |
Virgilyn Driscoll |
Distinction | 2000 |
Lonny Joseph Gordon |
Choreography/Performance | 2000 |
Peggy Rosenzweig, |
Friend of Dance | 2000 |
Michael Doran |
Distinction | 2001 |
Peggy Myo-Young Choy |
Choreography/Performance | 2001 |
Harv Thompson |
Friend of Dance | 2001 |
Virginia Davis |
Lifetime Achievement | 2001 |
Bess Zana |
Career Recognition | 2001 |
Marcia Fellows |
Lifetime Achievement | 2002 |
Rena Kornblum |
Research and Journalism | 2002 |
James Moore |
Career Recognition | 2002 |
Robin Pettersen |
Distinction | 2002 |
Joan Mills |
Margaret H’Doubler | 2003 |
Jin-Wen Yu |
Choreography/Performance | 2003 |
Carol Hoehn |
Lifetime Achievement | 2003 |
John Gesinski* |
Friend of Dance | 2003 |
Nan Gilbert Dwyer |
Distinction | 2003 |
Jean Adams* |
Lifetime Achievement | 2004 |
Kristanne Connolly |
Choreography/Performance | 2004 |
Gerri Gurman |
Distinction | 2004 |
Ginny O’Brien* |
Friend of Dance | 2004 |
Doug Kane |
Career Recognition | 2005 |
Gertrude Delorit |
Lifetime Achievement | 2005 |
Li Chiao-Ping |
Choreography/Performance | 2005 |
Mary Belle Potter, |
Lifetime Achievement | 2005 |
Evelyn Smith*, |
Career Recognition | 2005 |
W. Earle Smith |
Recognition of New Leadership | 2005 |
Karen Cowan |
Margaret H’Doubler | 2006 |
Mary Jane Van Duyse Sorgel |
Lifetime Achievement | 2006 |
Betty Hayes-Baxter |
Career Recognition | 2008 |
Kay Kuester-Doran |
Lifetime Achievement | 2008 |
Janet Lilly, |
Choreography/Performance | 2008 |
Name |
Category |
Year |
---|---|---|
Louise Kloepper* |
Uncategorized | 1984 |
Ferne Caulker-Bronson |
Uncategorized | 1986 |
Betty Salamun |
Uncategorized | 1987 |
Virginia Weiler* |
Uncategorized | 1988 |
Mary Elliott |
Uncategorized | 1989 |
Christine Stevens Jezewska |
Uncategorized | 1990 |
Jane Farwell* |
Uncategorized | 1991 |
Curtis Carter |
Uncategorized | 1992 |
Deborah Thomas |
Uncategorized | 1992 |
Jim Sullivan |
Uncategorized | 1992 |
Edward L. Kamarck* |
Uncategorized | 1992 |
Donna Peckett |
Uncategorized | 1992 |
Ginka Cohn* |
Uncategorized | 1992 |
Cecelia Brown* |
Uncategorized | 1993 |
Mary Thurrell |
Uncategorized | 1994 |
Bernadine Kunkel* |
Distinction | 1995 |
Eileen Muth* |
Margaret H’Doubler | 1995 |
Judith Benade |
Choreography/Performance | 1995 |
Cate Deicher |
Recognition of New Leadership | 1995 |
Mary Alice “Buff” Brennan |
Research and Journalism | 1995 |
Waltraud Karkar, |
Distinction | 1996 |
Anna Nassif |
Margaret H’Doubler | 1996 |
Charles Carell*, |
Lifetime Achievement | 1996 |
Timothy Josephs |
Recognition of New Leadership | 1996 |
Mercedes Fernandes, |
Career Recognition | 1996 |
Diana Cottam* |
Friend of Dance | 1996 |