12-10-2025 4:04am

Goucher Hosting

Five BCPS students named Maryland All-State Dancers

TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Public Schools is celebrating a significant achievement in the arts, with five students named among the 26 statewide honorees for Maryland All-State Dancers. The announcement follows a competitive statewide audition process that took place on October 28 at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC).

More than 100 students were nominated for the audition, showcasing the depth of dance talent across the state. The BCPS students who earned the prestigious All-State title are sophomores and juniors from two of the county’s leading arts programs. Hereford High School is represented by sophomore Emma Aynbinder and junior Sofie Kahalas. George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology boasts three honorees: junior Macie Donohue and seniors Kiersten Jackson and Journey Smith.

Senior Journey Smith reflected on the dedication required for the honor, stating, “It’s a reminder that all my hard work has meaning. All the hangouts I’ve missed, every injury, all the late-night rehearsals, the sweat and tears have led me to this point.”

Honorable Mentions and Teacher Recognition

In addition to the All-State designees, three BCPS students earned Honorable Mention status. These students include senior Raina Brzezinski of Carver Center, and sophomore Callie Mays and freshman Grace Ziegler of Hereford High School. Brzezinski called the recognition “a big achievement for my dancing career.”

The successful students credited their dedicated teachers for providing them with the opportunity to audition and grow. The teachers for the honorees are Erin Norton at Hereford High School and Maria Royals and Stephanie Powell at Carver Center.

Jackson expressed her gratitude, saying, “Being in a room with such amazing dancers and teachers was so inspiring to me, and I want to thank my teachers for giving me the opportunity to be in that room and learn from such talented people.” Freshman Grace Ziegler added that the environment at the audition was equally inspiring, noting, “The moment I stepped into the studio at UMBC, I felt inspired by the talent around me, and at home in the space.”

Future Opportunities

The All-State Dancers will be officially recognized on Friday, January 9, 2026, at the 36th Annual Maryland Public High School Dance Showcase at Goucher College. The BCPS honorees are also now eligible to participate in the school system’s own All-County Honors Dance Ensemble.

Additionally, the Showcase in January will feature students from Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts, joining their peers from Hereford High School and Carver Center. All students participating in the Showcase will take part in three master classes led by local dance professionals or university faculty, and schools have the opportunity to submit a dance piece to be adjudicated for selection in the evening gala performance.

Why have a State Public School Dance Showcase?

To highlight the status of and continue building the quality of dance instruction in Maryland Public Schools.
To expose students to other school dance programs and educators throughout the state of Maryland and celebrate community through dance.
To provide high quality master classes in a variety of genres and styles to broaden student experiences.
To foster high-quality performance in dance as a fine art, aligning to the Dance National Core Arts Standards and the MSDE dance curriculum.
To create a professional learning community for students and dance teachers in Maryland.
To receive constructive feedback from professional adjudicators to improve dance performance.
To present the All-State Dance Awards.
Recognize schools with Awards for Professionalism at the Showcase Day and Concert.