*Please Scroll Through This Entire Page to See the 2025 Finalists for Each LineLight Category and Award!*
2025 People Category
Finalists
North America - Instructor of the Year, 2025
Amy Bailey (USA)
Brandon Zahorsky (USA)
Cody Flowers (USA)
Jeffrey Callejo Jr. (USA)
Jo Thompson Szymanski (USA)
John Robinson (USA)
Rhoda Lai (CAN)
North America - Choreographer of the Year, 2025
Dustin Valcalda & Sierra Gil (USA)
Jo Thompson Szymanski (USA)
Mark Paulino (USA)
Rachael McEnaney (USA)
Rob Holley (USA)
Trevor Thornton (USA)
North America - Male Personality of the Year, 2025
Brandon Zahorsky (USA)
Cody Flowers (USA)
Jeffrey Callejo Jr. (USA)
Joey Warren (USA)
John Robinson (USA)
Mark Paulino (USA)
Trevor Thornton (USA)
North America - feMale Personality of the Year, 2025
Amy Bailey (USA)
Jill Babinec (USA)
Jo Thompson Szymanski (USA)
Rachael McEnaney (USA)
Rhoda Lai (CAN)
North America - dj of the Year, 2025
Ashley Rose (USA)
Heidi Cluck (USA)
Jill Babinec (USA)
Nicky Riess (USA)
Tina Foster (USA)
North America - Content Creator of the Year, 2025
Candy Sherwin (www.youtube.com/@CandySherwin)
Carol Craven & Stacy J. Garcia (World Line Dance Newsletter;
www.worldlinedancenewsletter.com)
Cathy Garland (Granite State Stomp; www.youtube.com/@GraniteStateStomp)
Jenny Brown (Line Dance Dallas; www.youtube.com/@LineDanceDallas5)
Jessie Chan (www.youtube.com/@JessieChan33)
Michelle Wright (Michelle Wright Line Dance; www.youtube.com/@Michellelinedance)
Philip Victor (BootScootin Line Dance; www.youtube.com/@BootScootin)
North America - Protostar of the Year, 2025
Ashley Rose (USA)
Brendan Simoens (USA)
Heidi Cluck (USA)
Jeffrey Callejo Jr. (USA)
Laura Gordon (USA)
Maggie Shipley (USA)
Ray Okuda (USA)
North America - hidden gem of the Year, 2025
Britt Beresik (USA)
Cathy Garland (USA)
Keith Riess (USA) & Nicky Riess (USA)
Kerry Maus (USA)
Michelle Wright (USA)
Sarah Preston Britto (USA)
Steve Cavanaugh (USA)
North America - trailblazer of the Year, 2025
Carol Craven (USA) & Stacy J. Garcia (USA)
Chris Jacques (USA) & Sarah Gosson-Cote (USA)
Dustin Valcalda (USA) & Sierra Gil (USA)
Jeffrey Callejo (USA)
Jill Weiss (USA)
Laura Bird (USA)
Miss Yee Haw (CAN)
North America - luminary of the Year, 2025
Afortunada Arroyo (USA)
Amy Glass (Austin, Texas, USA)
Celina Meador (USA)
Jen Michele (USA)
Ray Swartz (USA)
Rose Napolitan Prim (USA)
Sheba Thone (USA)
North America - hall of fame, 2025
Amy Bailey (USA)
Dan Albro (USA)
Guyton Mundy (USA)
Jo Thompson Szymanski (USA)
John Robinson (USA)
Rachael McEnaney (USA)
Rhoda Lai (CAN)
Scott Blevins (USA)
international - instructor of the year, 2025
Darren Bailey (UK)
Fred Whitehouse (IRE)
Gary O'Reilly (IRE)
Maddison Glover (AUS)
Simon Ward (AUS)
international - choreographer of the year, 2025
Darren Bailey (UK)
Fred Whitehouse (IRE)
Gary O'Reilly (IRE)
Maddison Glover (AUS)
Simon Ward (AUS)
international - trailblazer of the year, 2025
Big Dave Baycroft (UK)
Colin Ghys (BEL)
George Crutchlow (UK)
Michelle Risley (UK)
Rob Fowler (ES)
international - luminary of the year, 2025
Colin Ghys (BEL)
Karl-Harry Winson (UK)
Michelle Risley (UK)
Roy Hadisubroto (IRE) & Fiona Hadisubroto (IRE)
Tim Johnson (UK)
2024 - 2025 Choreography Category
Finalists
North America - improver Dance of the Year
Big Red Balloon - Rachael McEnaney (USA)
Fool 4 You - Trevor Thornton (USA) & Brandon Zahorsky (USA)
Liar, Liar, Truck on Fire - Jeanne Chamas (USA) & Kristine Otero (USA)
Shot For Shot - Dustin Valcalda (USA) & Sierra Gil (USA)
North America - intermediate Dance of the Year
Bringin' The Wow - Scott Blevins (USA) & Jo Thompson Szymanski (USA)
Rattlesnake - Barry Amato (USA) & George Blick (USA)
Somewhere in Sedona - Maddison Glover (AUS) & Jo Thompson Szymanski (USA)
Sports Car - Bradley Mather (USA)
North America - advanced Dance of the Year
Baby Slow Down - Mark Paulino (USA) & Dylan DeClue (USA)
Everybody Get Up - Dustin Betts (USA), Cody Flowers (USA), & Rachael McEnaney (USA)
I'll Never Know - Niels Poulsen (DK) & Jo Thompson Szymanski (USA)
Loved You Better - Rhoda Lai (CAN) & Guillaume Richard (FR)
Made You Look - Rhoda Lai (CAN)
Transcendental Cha - Dustin Valcalda (USA) & Sierra Gil (USA)
North America - dance of the decade, 2014 - 2023
3 Tequila Floor - Maddison Glover (AUS) & Jo Thompson Szymanski (USA)
Ain't Misbehavin' - Guyton Mundy (USA), Jo Thompson Szymanski (USA), & Amy Bailey (USA)
American Kids - Randy Pelletier (USA)
Back On Texas Time - Gail A. Dawson (USA)
Gives Me Shivers - Brandon Zahorsky (USA)
North America - classic dance of the year, Up to 2013
Askin' Questions - Larry Bass (USA)
Come Dance With Me - Jo Thompson Szymanski (USA)
Dizzy - Jo Thompson Szymanski (USA)
Have Fun Go Mad - Scott Blevins (USA)
T.G.I.F. - Jo Thompson Szymanski (USA) & Michele Perron (CAN)
North America - event dance of the year
Big Red Balloon - Rachael McEnaney (USA)
Bringin' The Wow - Scott Blevins (USA) & Jo Thompson Szymanski (USA)
Everybody Get Up - Dustin Betts (USA), Cody Flowers (USA), & Rachael McEnaney (USA)
Sports Car - Bradley Mather (USA)
International - Absolute Beginner/Beginner Dance of the Year
"A Bar Song" - Ben Murphy (DE)
Going Blonde - Gary O'Reilly (IRE)
International - intermediate/advanced Dance of the Year
Liquor Talking - Maddison Glover (AUS)
Sticks and Stones - Maddison Glover (AUS), Simon Ward (AUS), & Niels Poulsen (DK)
Places Category
Finalists
North America - Best Line Dance Social Venue
Cowboys Dance Hall (Largo, Florida)
JK Shuffles (New Milford, Connecticut)
Mishnock Barn (West Greenwich, Rhode Island)
Prospector's Grille & Saloon Dance Venue (Mt. Laurel Township, New Jersey)
The Barn in Sanford (Sanford, Florida)
Winner's Circle Saloon (Grantville, Pennsylvania)
North America - Best Line Dance Event/Convention/Workshop
New England Line Dance Showstopper (NELDS) (Rhode Island)
New York State of Line (NYSOL) (New York)
Sunshine N' Line (Florida)
The Line Dance Marathon (North Carolina)
Vegas Dance Explosion (VDE) (Nevada)
international - Best Line Dance Event/Convention/Workshop
Crystal Boot Awards (UK)
Eurodance (UK)
Explore & Dance (Ireland)
Springtime Shenanigans (UK)
World Dance Masters (UK)
