Dianne Rosso
I am an AACPS: Employee, Retired Employee, Glen Burnie High School
I graduated from University of Maryland Baltimore County in 1972 with a B.A. in Theatre and Dance and a Master’s in Education. I student taught in 1972 at Glen Burnie High School and went under contract with the Anne Arundel County Board of Education as a theatre arts teacher. At the time, there were no dance classes offered in the school system, so I developed a dance curriculum for credit, taught it during the school day, and grew it into the largest dance program in a public high school in Maryland. I then expanded the daily dance program to also include a dance company, a junior dance company, and a dance club. In 1989, I wrote another curriculum, “Dance for the Athlete,” which developed footwork, speed and coordination in athletes and it became an instant hit. Enrollment in dance at my high school grew so rapidly that I had to equip a second dance studio and have a second teacher hired.
Numerous students leaving my program went on to major in dance, eventually becoming high school dance teachers or performing in numerous dance companies, in open dance studios, or on Broadway, in Vegas and with Disney. Just recently, a star athlete from my program signed a contract with an NFL team!
Over these 42 years of teaching, I have won a variety of awards including Outstanding Arts Educator for the State of Maryland and Dance Teacher of the Year and I was also a National Finalist for Anne Arundel County Excellence Awards and a Finalist for the Teacher of the Year. I have also had opportunity to share my, “tricks of the trade,” with several national dance magazines, journals, conferences, and TV stations.
Of all my accomplishments, the most gratifying thing for me has been developing talent in students. Teaching in a diverse community has allowed me to build a special success in thousands of young students. Whether going on to Broadway or not, everyone has walked out of my classroom being a star! Nothing is greater than the feeling of seeing dancers’ parents turn out for my twice a year dance productions and having the opportunity to see their students. Whether they were at the beginning level or more advanced, everyone was a winner! If you would like to read specific information regarding my career which was covered in newspapers and dance magazines over the years just google Dianne Rosso Dance.
