
Photo of Patapsco HS and Center for the Arts at modern class with
Nicole Martinell, master teacher, and William Goffigan, accompanist.
-Photo courtesy of Ms. Claire Sweet, PHSCFA dance teacher
With the support of Arts Education in Maryland Schools (AEMS), Baltimore County Commission on Arts and Sciences (BCCAS), Maryland Dance Education Association (MDEA), and Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), the 35th annual Maryland Public High School Dance Showcase (MPHSDS) was held at Goucher College on Friday, January 10, 2025.
Forty-five schools from 10 counties were scheduled to participate in the Showcase day and eighteen pieces out of fifty entries were selected by professional adjudicators to perform in the evening Gala Concert. Over 600 public high school dance students had the opportunity to take a total of twenty-seven master classes in a variety of dance forms, all taught voluntarily by eighteen dance artists and educators from or living in MD.
The 2025 Showcase was dedicated to a cofounder of the event, Chrystelle T. Bond, former Department Chair of Dance at Goucher College. The day began with an interactive presentation about Chrystelle Bond and her love of the Ballet Russes, presented by Dr. Karen Kuebler. The twenty-six All-State and 6 Honorable Mention Awardees were recognized at the end of the evening concert. School Professionalism Awards were presented to Albert Einstein, Lansdowne, and Patapsco High Schools. An inaugural Excellence in Student Choreography Award was presented to Sasha Failli, student choreographer from Crofton High School.
The Showcase is organized each year by a voluntary Planning Committee made up of dance educators Judi Fey, Tricia Gooley, Suzie Henneman, Karen Kuebler, and Trish Spruill. The ten member Advisory Council, representing each participating county, helps to guide the Planning Committee and works on sub-committees that support the work of the Showcase.
The 36th annual Maryland Public High School Dance Showcase will take place on Friday, January 9th with a snow date of Monday, January 12th.
For more information, visit: https://sites.google.com/view/md-public-hs-dance-showcase/dance-showcase
"The state showcase is a very inspiring day to start the new year. It's serves as a benchmark - to see your progress from the year prior." -Dakota R., Senior dance magnet student & dance company co-director.
"Attending the State Showcase is a tradition for Patapsco dance students. They look forward to the master classes and performance. It truly sets the tone for the entire remainder of the school year, especially for the seniors as they complete their Fine Arts Dance journey in a high school program." - Ms. Claire Sweet, Baltimore County Schools Dance Educator
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