Since 1984, The New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Awards (named in honor of legendary teacher of dance and composition Bessie Schoenberg)  have honored outstanding dance work being done in New York. They were initiated by then director of Dance Theater Workshop (DTW), David White, and produced by DTW for many years.  In recent years, the awards were produced through the hard work and diligence of a trio of dance presenting organizations: DTW, Danspace Project, and The Joyce Theater.  In 2008, those organizations decided it was time to rethink and reinvigorate these vital awards and during that time the awards went on hiatus.

Following a terrific two-year process of listening, thinking, and working, producer Lucy Sexton is poised to introduce a revitalized Bessie Award ceremony to the NYC dance community.  Produced under the umbrella of DanceNYC,  the award ceremony will be held on Monday October 18, 2010 at 8 pm at Symphony Space.  In addition to presenting awards for work done in the past two years, Sexton and the Bessie Steering Committee will explain the ways in which they’ll be revising and reenvisioning the awards going forward.

For more information on The Bessies, visit the new website.  And, be sure to join us on October 18 to celebrate dance and related performance in New York City.