Valerie Winborne, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) gifted dance program chairperson, has been named the Pre-kindergarten-12th grade (P-12) Master Dance Educator of the Year for 2016. Presented annually by the National Dance Society, the award recognizes excellence in dance education in school divisions.

Winborne has taught in the division’s Gifted Dance Education Program at Kemps Landing/Old Donation School for eight years. The program serves more than 350 students and includes instruction in modern, ballet and creative dance techniques as well as the history and theory of dance. Hip-hop/street master classes with various guest artists are offered occasionally.

“We are so fortunate that VBCPS offers such high-quality fine arts programs to students and to have such talented educators like Valerie engaging our students every day,” said VBCPS Superintendent Aaron Spence. “I congratulate her on this notable achievement and thank her for sharing the gift of the performing arts with students.”

Prior to her teaching career, Winborne lived in New York where she toured nationally and internationally as the principal dancer for the award-winning dance company Urban Bush Women. She was in the dance theatre company of Marlies Yearby, the choreographer of the Broadway show “Rent,” and was the principal dancer in the off-Broadway production “Story of Josephine,” which inspired an Emmy award-winning HBO movie.

For more information, see the VBCPS press release.