OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018 Aratani Theatre | Japanese American Cultural & Community Center LOS ANGELES, CA OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION LOS ANGELES
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Since 1986, when Dance/USA’s second Roundtable was held in Atlanta, GA, the Dance/USA Trustees and members have recognized the extraordinary contributions of their colleagues to the field of dance with the Dance/USA Awards. That tradition continues tonight as we honor our colleagues during the 2018 Opening Night Celebration. DANCE/USA CHAMPION AWARD The Champion Award is given to any organization, business, foundation, or individual in the Annual Conference Host City whose achievements, leadership, and support have sustained and significantly advanced dance in their home community.
DANCE/USA HONOR AWARD The Honor Award goes to an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in the dance field by reason of artistic excellence and force of vision. PAST HONOREES 1986
PAST HONOREES 2010
2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017
T he Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation and the Meyer Foundation Pamela Crutchfield Chris and Warren Hellman, and Kary Schulman Dr. Robert & Katherine Goodale Toby Lerner Ansin Sarah and Ernest Butler Billie Mahoney
DANCE/USA TRUSTEES AWARD The Trustees Award is given at the discretion of the Dance/USA Board of Trustees to recognize an outstanding professional whose work has special significance to the field. PAST HONOREES 2004 2007 2008 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016 2017
Alan M. Kriegsman Dr. Richard Gibbs Rena Shagan Andrea Snyder C.C. Conner, Jr. Sharon Gersten Luckman Raven Wilkinson Ella Baff Douglas Sonntag
1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Anthony Tudor and Martha Graham Robert Joffrey and Merce Cunningham Agnes de Mille, Paul Taylor and Alvin Ailey Katherine Dunham and Bella Lewitzky Alexandra Danilova and Charles Reinhart Willam Christensen and Donald McKayle Judith Jamison and Bruce Marks Jeraldyne Blunden and David R. White Chuck Davis Arthur Mitchell Anna Halprin Frederic Franklin Tina Ramirez Carmen De Lavallade Lar Lubovitch Helgi Tomasson Joan Myers Brown Liz Lerman Trisha Brown Jawole Willa Jo Zollar Cleo Parker Robinson
DANCE/USA ‘ERNIE’ AWARD The ‘Ernie’ Award goes to an individual working “behind the scenes” within the infrastructure of the dance field, whose achievements have significantly empowered artists and supported their creativity individually and as a community. PAST HONOREES 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Ian ‘Ernie’ Horvath Richard E. LeBlond Jr. Martha Hill Davis and Bessie Schoenberg Barbara Horgan and Ivan Sygoda Deborah Jowitt Norton Owen and John R. Killacky Cora Cahan Sage Cowles Madeleine Nichols Anna Kisselgoff Sali Ann Kriegsman Dick Caples Verdery Roosevelt Sam Miller Barbara Weisberger D. David Brown Linda Shelton Ann Williams Gina Gibney
2018 Opening Night Celebration COCKTAIL HOUR 6:00pm – 7:00pm
ART EXHIBIT by Michael Becker, photographer Aratani Theater | Lobby
2018 HONOR AWARD SPONSORED BY FREED OF LONDON
Awarded to Debbie Allen Executive producer, director, choreographer, author, dancer and actor; and founder and artistic director of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy
2018 ‘ERNIE’ AWARD
HONORS CEREMONY 7:00pm – 8:30pm
PERFORMANCE by Toveema Documented descendants of the Tongva and Kumeyaay people of Southern California invite Dance/USA to connect with the origins of Los Angeles indigenous coastal maritime culture through an honoring experience.
WELCOMING REMARKS Amy Fitterer, Executive Director, Dance/USA
SPONSOR GREETING Roger Kluge, Managing Director, DeWitt Stern
Awarded to Carla Perlo Founding Director Emerita, Dance Place PRESENTED BY
Christopher K. Morgan, Executive Artistic Director, Dance Place
2018 TRUSTEES AWARD In Memory of Jane Efroymson SPONSORED BY DEWITT STERN
Awarded to Mary Verdi-Fletcher President/Founding Artistic Director, Dancing Wheels Company & School PRESENTED BY
SPECIAL GREETING
Mark Tomasic, MFA, Associate Professor of Dance, Santa Monica College
Danielle Brazell, General Manager, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
2018 CHAMPION AWARD
Mark Ridley Thomas, Supervisor, Second District, County of Los Angeles INTRODUCTION BY
Kristin Sakoda, Executive Director, Los Angeles County Arts Commission
HONORS CELEBRATION REMARKS Amy Fitterer, Executive Director, Dance/USA
Awarded to Lula Washington and Erwin Washington Co-Founders, Artistic Director and Executive Director, Lula Washington Dance Theatre PRESENTED BY
Darrell Brown, Senior Vice President, U.S. Bank
CLOSING REMARKS Amy Fitterer, Executive Director, Dance/USA
BUFFET DINNER 8:30pm – 9:45pm
OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION LOS ANGELES
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Debbie Allen 2 0 1 8 D A N C E / U S A H O N O R AWA R D
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OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION LOS ANGELES
Carla Perlo 2 0 1 8 D A N C E / U S A ‘ E R N I E ’ AWA R D
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Mary Verdi-Fletcher 2 0 1 8 D A N C E / U S A T R U S T E E S AWA R D Mary Verdi-Fletcher, President/Founding Artistic Director — The Dancing Wheels Company & School, has been a pioneering force in the development and success of physically integrated dance worldwide for over three decades. As one of the first and foremost professional wheelchair dancers, she has worked with such esteemed artists as Donald McKayle, David Rousseve, Dianne McIntyre, Dennis Nahat, Keith Young, Ben Vereen, and Christopher Reeve. After the 1980 inception of the Dancing Wheels Company, now in its 37th season, Mary realized the dire need for training and career advancement for dancers of all ability levels, which ultimately lead to the creation of the multi-arts Dancing Wheels School in 1990. Attracting students from around the globe, The World Center for Integrated Dance & Arts Access is now a most sought after site for training in the formal techniques of physically integrated dance. In 2015, Mary’s inventive and pioneering spirit unveiled a new branding campaign for the Company as The World Center for Integrated Dance & Arts Access and in 2016 opened Dancing Wheels specific training to the world through virtual classes
offered to those unable to travel to the Cleveland based studios for training. Her quest to provide equal access for training continues with plans to develop a certification program in the Dancing Wheels methodologies of training. Throughout her career, Mary has been featured internationally on television, in numerous digital and print media articles, and has been honored with numerous awards including: An Emmy as the on camera host and narrator for an arts series entitled Short Cuts to Happiness, the Outstanding Young Clevelander Award, the James Brady Award for Rehabilitation, the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award, National Rehabilitation Achievement Award, Northern Ohio Magazine Achievement Award for 25 years of service (2005), Ohio Theater Alliance Award. She was one of 14 finalists for the National Leadership for a Changing World Award, a finalist for the Henry Betts Award, winner of the Ms. Wheelchair Ohio competition, and First Runner up to Ms. Wheelchair America. Mary’s current and past professional affiliations include Executive Committee Member for the 2009 National Careers in Arts Summit at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Program Committee Member for The Association of Performing Arts Presenters Annual Conference, Advisory Board Member for The Arc of Greater Cleveland, Advisory Board of the Singing Angels, Board Member for Ohio Arts Presenters, member of the Board of Directors for Professional Flair, Inc. and a member of the Board of Trustees for Dance/USA. In 2014, Mary was awarded the Governor’s Award for Arts Education in Ohio, the Ohio Dance Award for major contributions to dance in Ohio and the Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards, which pay tribute to exemplary leaders in the disability community who have had a profound impact on shaping attitudes, raising awareness, and improving the quality of life of people with disabilities. In 2016, she was honored with the Cleveland Arts Prize Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2017, the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio’s Woman of Distinction Award.
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OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION LOS ANGELES
Lula Washington and Erwin Washington 2 0 1 8 D A N C E / U S A C H A M P I O N AWA R D
CELEBRATE WITH LULA AND ERWIN ON FRIDAY, JUNE 8 AT THE FORD THEATRES
IGNITE @ The Ford 8:30pm Lula Washington Dance Theatre featuring works by Rennie Harris, Kyle Abraham, David Roussève, Tamica Washington-Miller, and Lula Washington Presented by the Ford Theatres, as part of the LA Dance Platform spearheaded and initiated by the Department of Cultural Affairs for the City of Los Angeles. Visit the Dance/USA Conference mobile app for more information & discount code.
OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION LOS ANGELES
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THE 2018 DANCE/USA HONORS CEREMONY IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
DeWitt Stern is proud to sponsor tonight’s 2018 Dance/USA Trustees Award in memory of Jane Efroymson.
Freed of London is proud to sponsor tonight’s 2018 Dance/USA Honor Award.
DANCEUSA.ORG DANCEUSA.ORG/ANNUAL-CONFERENCE #DUSAconf #DanceUSALA #LADance
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