By Walter Rutledge
The Bessies- the New York Dance and Performance Award is the Oscars for dance. Named in honor of pioneer dance educator and choreographic mentor Bessie Schonberg, the Bessies has become one of the most prestigious awards one can receive in the world of dance. On Monday October 20, 7:30pm the Bessies will be held at the Apollo Theater, 325 West 125th Street.
In addition to recognizing excellence in dance, production and creation the evening will mark the 30th anniversary of The Bessies. To celebrate this milestone there will be four live retrospective performances by former Bessie honorees. Performances by Mark Morris (1984) Michelle Dorrance (2001), Urban Bush Women (1992), and Circus Amok (1995) will highlight the diversity of the awards.
Evening highlights include presenters Wendy Whelan (New York City Ballet), Megan Fairchild (On The Town), Robert Battle (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater) and Bill Irvin. Grammy award-winning Soprano Jessye Norman will accompany Virginia Johnson in paying tribute to Arthur Mitchell for his lifetime achievement in dance. New York City’s First Lady Chirlane McCray is scheduled to deliver the opening remarks; and Lisa Kron, whose Public Theater hit Fun Home is slated for Broadway, is the host.
Tickets are available for $100, $30 and $10 and can be purchased in person at the Apollo Theater or through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 and online at Ticketmaster.com
2014 Bessie Award Nominees
Outstanding Performer
Maggie Cloud in Passagen by Pam Tanowitz
Sean Donovan in the work of Witness Relocation, Jane Comfort, Faye Driscoll, and others
Julia Hausermann in Disabled Theater by Jerome Bel and Theater HORA
Sean Jackson in We Used to Hold by Lisa LaTouche as part of Rhythm in Motion
Mickey Mahar in the work of Miguel Gutierrez, Adrienne Truscott, Ryan McNamara, and Gillian Walsh
Angela “Angel” McNeal hip hop battle improvisations at Harlem Stage E-Moves 15 Battle
Sara Mearns New York City Ballet
Aakash Odedra in James Brown, Get on the Good Foot, A Celebration in Dance organized and shaped by Otis Sallid as part of A Celebration in Dance at the Apollo Theater
Tiler Peck New York City Ballet
Rebecca Serrell-Cyr in Fire Underground by Donna Uchizono
Linda Celeste Sims Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Stuart Singer in Within Between by John Jasperse
Outstanding Music Composition/Sound Design
Simphiwe Dana, Giuliano Modarelli, and Complete Quartet for Exit/Exist choreographed by Gregory Maqoma
G. Lucas Crane for This Was the End created by Mallory Catlett
Steven Taylor for Aubade choreographed by Douglas Dunn
Nicholas Young for his inventive tap ‘percussion platforms’ in Rhythm in Motion
Outstanding Revival
Dark Swan by Nora Chipaumire –The Joyce
Myth or Meth (or Maybe Moscow?) by Radiohole– Tom Murrin Full Moon Performance Festival at La MaMa
State of Heads by Donna Uchizono– New York Live Arts
Bach Partita by Twyla Tharp– American Ballet Theatre
Outstanding Production
Asase Yaa African American Dance Theatre Djembe in the New Millennium– Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts
Camille A. Brown MR. TOL E. RAncE– Produced by 651 Arts at Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts
Mallory Catlett This Was the End– The Chocolate Factory
Liz Gerring Glacier– Montclair State University
Maria Hassabi Premiere– The Kitchen
John Jasperse Within Between– New York Live Arts
Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker En Atendant/Cesena– Brooklyn Academy of Music
Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker Desh– White Light Festival
Sarah Michelson 4– Whitney Museum of American Art
MIMULUS Cia de Danca Dolores– The Joyce
Okwui Okpokwasili in collaboration with Peter Born Bronx Gothic– Danspace
Aki Sasamoto Sunny in the Furnace– The Kitchen
Outstanding Visual Design
Thomas Dunn for New Work for the Desert by Beth GillAvram Finkelstein,
Kathy Morganroth, and Jenny Mui of YMX by Yellowman; Patricia
Forelle; Tamara Gonzales; and Nicholas Vermeer, Olivia Barr, and
William Ward of NYC Resistor for Vectors, Mary, and Snow by BrooklynBallet
Peter Ksander, Olivera Gajic, Ryan Holsopple, Chris Kuhl, and Keith Skretch for This Was the End by Mallory Catlett
Tim Yip for Desh by Akram Khan
