The Utah Dance Education Organization has named adjunct assistant dance professor Lynne Larson Dance Educator of the Year, Private Sector. UDEO gives this award to dance educators whose “commitment and creativity is worth noting as a prime example of continued ingenuity, impact, and reflective practice.” UDEO members, principals, students, parents, and community members nominate the Dance Educator of the Year. A signifigant member of the Utah Dance Community, Lynne instructs the Teaching Methods Course at the School of Dance, serves as Education Director at Repertory Dance Theater, and is a strong advocate for Dance education in the state.

From UDEO:
“Lynne Larson is a tireless advocate for dance education in Utah schools and communities. In 2007, she was named Education Director for Repertory Dance Theatre and in this capacity she spends a significant amount of time in the schools teaching and implementing dance lesson for all ages and levels. She works across the state to bring dance education of the highest caliber to students in urban and rural settings. Thanks to her efforts, RDT was able to serve over 38,000 students and teachers last year. She partners with the Utah Department of Education’s P.E. Department to present dance and movement classes as a means to connect/explore both P.E. and Dance State cores in the schools. She writes all of RDT’s lesson plans, conducts teacher in-service workshops across the state and oversees RDT’s pre-professional dance education.  Colleague Nick Cendese says of Lynne, ‘She is an outstanding teacher, leader, and mentor working each and every day to make dance a vital and important form of communication and expression for Utah’s population.’”