The Bessies: honors to Joan Myers Brown and Louis Mofsie

Joan Myers Brown

The NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, New York City’s premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, has announced the recipients of two special awards to be given out at its 35th annual ceremony on October 14.

2019 Bessie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Dance:

Joan Myers Brown, Founder and Artistic Director of the Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO), in recognition of decades of choreographic influence on and support of the work of Black American dance artists.

Louis Mofsie

2019 Bessie Award for Outstanding Service to the Field of Dance:

Louis Mofsie, Director of Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, whose work has kept Native American dance forms alive for generations of young people.

Join the celebration at Skirball Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, October 14 (7:30pm). Get information and tickets here.

See the full list of nominees and previously-announced awards here.

******

DISCLAIMER: In addition to my work on InfiniteBody, I serve as Senior Curatorial Director of Gibney. The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views, strategies or opinions of Gibney.

******

Subscribe in a reader

Walter Rutledge talks with Joan Myers Brown and Brenda Dixon Gottschild

a video conversation (22:49) moderated by Walter Rutledge

with Joan Myers Brown, founder, Philadanco

author and dance historian, Brenda Dixon Gottschild, author of Joan Myers Brown and The Audacious Hope of the Black Ballerina, a Biohistory of American

The Apollo celebrates James Brown in dance: my review for TDE

The amazing Derick K. Grant
in Live by Otis Sallid
(photo by Shahar Azrari)

I reviewed the just-closed James Brown: Get on The Good Foot, A Celebration in Dance show at The Apollo Theater for The Dance Enthusiast, and you can find my review by clicking here.

My review of Philadanco at The Joyce Theater

Here's my review of Philadelphia's great dance troupe, Philadanco, just posted on DanceMagazine.com: Click here.

Philadanco troupe in jeopardy

The Philadelphia Dance Company – National Treasure May Close
by Marsha Gilbert, Ballet/Jazz/Tap at Suite101, August 15, 2012

2010 International Association of Blacks in Dance conference

at The Doubletree-Center City, Philadelphia, PA — January 14 -18, 2010

The 22nd Annual International Association of Blacks in Dance, co-hosted by PHILADANCO and University of the Arts, is a meeting of African American artists, educators, historians, videographers and students interested in dance of the Diaspora, and the future and success of this art form.It will include four full days of classes, lectures and workshops; dance market place; luncheons and receptions; liturgical showcases; and other events. The conference welcomes people from diverse backgrounds.

Nightly performances will feature over 30 dance groups, including Duke Ellington School for the Arts, Cleveland School for the Arts, Baltimore School for the Arts, William and Mary College, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Lula Washington, LA Creative Outlet, Camille Brown, Urban Bush Women and Ailey II.

Awards banquet, Saturday, January 16: Maurice Hines, keynote speaker; awardees: Mary Hinkson, Mary Barnett, Caroline Adams, and Delores Browne

Registration information and other conference details: Kim Bears Bailey at 215-387-8200