Moving Arts Española Co-Founder and CNN Hero Roger Montoya Honored with National Dance Teacher Award

NEW YORK, NY / ESPAÑOLA, NM — The good news continues for Moving Arts Española. Co-Founder and Creative Director Roger Montoya, a CNN Hero, has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 Dance Teacher Award, one of the nation’s most prestigious honors recognizing outstanding contributions to dance education.

Montoya and fellow Co-Founder Salvador Ruiz-Esquivel attended the awards ceremony held in New York City on Tuesday, October 7, where Roger was celebrated alongside other distinguished educators from across the country.

The Dance Teacher Awards honor exceptional educators whose dedication and artistry have made a profound and lasting impact on the field of dance. Montoya’s recognition reflects decades of commitment to teaching, mentorship, and community leadership through the arts.

At Moving Arts, Montoya teaches Ballet and Dance Performance, in addition to serving as a Gymnastics Coach and the organization’s Creative Director. His holistic approach to education emphasizes both artistic excellence and the development of critical life skills, inspiring countless young people in the Española Valley to pursue their potential through movement and creativity.

Montoya’s own journey as a dancer began early. At age 20, he earned a merit scholarship to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City, where he trained under renowned mentors Louis Falco (Limon Dance Company) and Pearl Lang (Martha Graham School). He later apprenticed with the Paul Taylor Dance Company and toured internationally with the Parsons
Dance Company through 1990.

Reflecting on the honor, Montoya shared:

“I am deeply honored to be recognized for my mentorship in the arts at this national level. The true gift is in watching a student apply the critical values and life skills they learn through the performing arts.

”This national recognition underscores Montoya’s lifelong dedication to the transformative power of the arts and his unwavering commitment to creating opportunities for youth through dance education.

About Moving Arts Española
Founded in 2008 by Roger Montoya and Salvador Ruiz-Esquivel, Moving Arts Española provides affordable, high-quality arts education, academic support, and wellness programs to the youth and families of Northern New Mexico. Through a wide range of creative disciplines, Moving Arts fosters self-expression, confidence, and community engagement.

For more information, please contact:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 844-623-2787
Website: movingartsespanola.org
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Roger Montoya, Tuesday, October 7, visited New York to receive his award as a 2025 Dance Teacher Honoree, one of the nation’s most prestigious honors recognizing outstanding contributions to dance education.