Sarah Lawrence Dance faculty members, alumni, and guest artists have been nominated for New York Dance and Performance Awards, informally known as “The Bessies,” including two nominations for Outstanding Production and one for Outstanding Breakout Choreographer.
The Bessies, named in honor of Bessie Schönberg, a faculty member at Sarah Lawrence for 37 years who is credited with establishing the College’s Dance Department, recognize outstanding and groundbreaking creative work in choreography, performance, music composition, and visual design by independent dance artists in New York City.
“The Bessie Awards allow us to look back over the past year and acknowledge outstanding achievements in dance and performance in New York City. I’m thrilled Sarah Lawrence faculty, alumni, and guest artists are among the many outstanding artists whose work is being recognized,” said John Jasperse, director of the College’s Dance Department. “I’m equally excited that Sarah Lawrence students have the opportunity to learn from faculty who are at the top of their game as leaders in the creative field, and I look forward to continuing this momentum and energy into the academic year this fall.”
Juliana May was nominated for Outstanding Production for Folk Incest, which premiered at the Abrons Art Center and was recently shown at ImPulsTanz in Vienna, Austria. She has been a member of the Sarah Lawrence Dance faculty since 2017.
Jonathan Gonzalez MFA ‘15 and a 2019 Sarah Lawrence Dance Guest Artist Lab participant, was nominated for Outstanding Breakout Choreographer.
Nora Chipaumire, a 2017 Guest Artist Lab participant, was also nominated for Outstanding Production for #Punk 100% Pop* N!GGA, a live performance album inspired by her formative years in Zimbabwe during the 1970s, '80s and '90s.