Ralabate receives Dance Teacher Award

Ralabate

Thomas P. Ralabate, associate professor of dance at the University at Buffalo, was named the recipient of the 2007 Dance Teacher Award in Higher Education. He was honored on Aug. 20 at the Dance Teacher Summer Conference, held in Manhattan. Ralabate has taught in the UB dance department for 30 years.

A former U.S. and North American Latin Ballroom Dance Champion, Ralabate received his teaching break when the head of the UB dance department noticed him in class and recruited him to teach a jazz class.

Ralabate has worked tirelessly to help implement both the BA and BFA programs at UB. He currently teaches upper levels of jazz, tap, social dance and module classes for mind/body integration, and he serves as director of UB's dance company, Zodiaque, now entering its 34th year.

He is also chair of the education strategy for Dance Masters of America and founded DMA's Student Honors Intensive Program. His past awards include the 2006 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Scholarship and Creative Activities and UB's College for Arts and Sciences Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Area of Arts.