CATEGORY GUIDANCE
Choosing the right category for your nomination
Dance Awards Ireland recognises achievement, contribution and impact across the breadth of Ireland’s dance community.
The guidance below is designed to help nominators choose the category that best reflects the individual, organisation, project or work they wish to recognise. Please read the descriptions carefully before submitting your nomination.
Where a nomination may appear relevant to more than one category, consider the main reason the nominee deserves recognition and select the category that best reflects that achievement.
PERFORMANCE & ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE
✳︎
INDUSTRY & PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
✳︎
DANCE STUDIO/SCHOOL OF THE YEAR
✳︎
WELL-BEING & COMMUNITY IMPACT
✳︎
EDUCATION & TRAINING EXCELLENCE
✳︎
CULTURAL & HERITAGE CONTRIBUTIONS
✳︎
HONORARY & LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTS
PERFORMANCE & ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE ✳︎ INDUSTRY & PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION ✳︎ DANCE STUDIO/SCHOOL OF THE YEAR ✳︎ WELL-BEING & COMMUNITY IMPACT ✳︎ EDUCATION & TRAINING EXCELLENCE ✳︎ CULTURAL & HERITAGE CONTRIBUTIONS ✳︎ HONORARY & LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTS
PERFORMANCE & ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE
Dancer of the Year 15–17
Recognises an exceptional young dancer aged 15 to 17 whose artistry, technical development, commitment and performance demonstrate outstanding potential. Open to dancers across all dance forms and styles.
Dancer of the Year 18+
Recognises an outstanding dancer aged 18 or over whose performance, artistry, technical ability and commitment demonstrate excellence in their field. Open to dancers working across all dance forms and at different stages of their professional or artistic journey.
Emerging Dance Artist
Recognises an artist at an early or developing stage of their dance career who is beginning to establish a distinctive artistic voice and make a meaningful contribution to the dance landscape. This category considers artistic development, initiative and future potential.
Choreographer Award
Recognises a choreographer whose work demonstrates a strong artistic vision, originality and excellence in choreographic practice. Nominations should reflect the quality and impact of the nominee’s choreographic work and contribution to dance.
Rising Choreographer Award
Recognises an emerging choreographic voice demonstrating originality, creative potential and a developing body of work. This category is intended for choreographers who are still establishing their practice rather than those with a long-established professional career.
Traditional or Cultural Dance Performance
Recognises an outstanding performance rooted in a traditional, folk or culturally specific dance form. Open to performances representing the diverse cultural traditions practised across the island of Ireland, including Irish and international dance traditions. This category recognises a specific performance or body of recent performance work rather than wider cultural contribution.
EDUCATION & TRAINING EXCELLENCE
Dance Educator Award
Recognises an exceptional dance educator whose teaching practice, knowledge, commitment and influence have made a significant difference to their students. The award considers not only technical instruction, but the educator’s contribution to artistic development, confidence, curiosity and long-term growth.
Dance Training Programme
Recognises an outstanding structured programme of dance training or professional development. The category considers the quality of teaching, programme design, progression opportunities and the impact of the training on participating dancers or dance professionals.
College or University Dance Programme
Recognises excellence in dance education within further or higher education. Consideration may include the quality of training, curriculum, student development, artistic opportunities, industry connection and preparation for further study or professional practice.
Leadership in Dance Education
Recognises an individual whose leadership has made a significant contribution to the development of dance education. This may include innovation in teaching practice, curriculum development, institutional leadership, teacher development or sustained work improving the quality and reach of dance education.
CULTURAL & HERITAGE CONTRIBUTIONS
Traditional or Cultural Dance Contribution
Recognises an individual, group or organisation making a significant contribution to the preservation, development, teaching or promotion of a traditional or culturally specific dance form. Open to the diverse dance traditions practised across the island of Ireland. This category recognises sustained contribution rather than a single performance.
Cross-Cultural Dance Collaboration
Recognises a dance project, performance or creative partnership that brings different cultural traditions, practices or perspectives into meaningful artistic dialogue. The category celebrates genuine collaboration, exchange and shared creative practice rather than the simple presentation of different cultural forms within the same event.
INDUSTRY & PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
Dance Photographer/Videographer Award
Recognises outstanding creative work in dance photography or videography. The award celebrates those who capture dance with artistic sensitivity, technical skill and an understanding of movement, contributing to how dance is documented, presented and shared.
Dance Festival or Event Award
Recognises a festival, performance platform, competition, showcase or other dance event that has made a significant contribution to the dance community. Consideration may include artistic quality, audience experience, opportunities created for participants and wider impact.
Dance Advocate Award
Recognises an individual whose advocacy, leadership or public support has strengthened the visibility, development or understanding of dance. This may include work in arts advocacy, community leadership, policy, media, education or other areas where sustained support has created meaningful opportunities or positive change for dance.
DANCE STUDIO/SCHOOL OF THE YEAR
This award recognises dance studios and schools that demonstrate excellence in dance training, student development, leadership and contribution to their communities.
Nominations should consider the quality of training and development provided, the environment created for dancers, the commitment of teachers and leadership, and the studio or school’s wider contribution to dance.
Dance studios and schools will be recognised across five regions:
Dublin · Leinster · Munster · Connacht · Ulster
One winner will be selected from each region. Each regional winner will then be considered for the overall title of:
ALL-IRELAND DANCE STUDIO/SCHOOL OF THE YEAR
The regional structure is designed to recognise excellent work taking place across the entire island and ensure that achievement is not measured only through national visibility or geographical location.
WELL-BEING & COMMUNITY IMPACT
Community Dance Project
Recognises an outstanding dance project created with, for or within a community. The category celebrates meaningful participation, connection and engagement, with consideration given to the quality of the project, its relevance to the community and the impact created through dance.
Inclusive Dance Programme
Recognises a dance programme demonstrating meaningful and sustained commitment to access and inclusion. This may include work that removes barriers to participation and creates high-quality dance opportunities for people who may otherwise experience exclusion from dance.
Dance and Well-being Champion
Recognises an individual whose work uses dance to support physical, emotional or social well-being. The award celebrates sustained commitment to creating positive change through dance and a clear understanding of the role movement can play in supporting people and communities.
Social Impact through Dance
Recognises a project, initiative or organisation using dance as a meaningful tool for social change. This category considers work addressing social issues, strengthening communities, reducing isolation or creating opportunities for people whose voices or experiences may be underrepresented.
HONORARY & LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTS
Lifetime Achievement in Dance
Recognises an individual whose sustained body of work and long-term commitment have made an exceptional contribution to dance. This award considers the breadth, depth and lasting influence of a career rather than achievement within a single year or project.
Outstanding Contribution to Ireland’s Dance Industry
Recognises an individual whose work has made a significant and lasting contribution to the development, visibility or strength of dance across Ireland. This may be through artistic practice, leadership, education, advocacy, production, administration or another area of sustained contribution to the wider dance sector.
Still unsure which category to choose?
Select the category that most closely reflects the main achievement or contribution you wish to recognise. Dance Awards Ireland reserves the right to consider a nomination in another category if the judging process identifies a more appropriate fit.