FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2012
CONTACT: Laura Henning
PHONE: 202.833.1717 x107
Washington, DC – Dance/USA, the national service organization for professional dance, announces its2012 Honors Celebration Awardees: Helgi Tomasson, renowned choreographer and long-time artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet, will receive the Dance/USA Honor. Sam Miller, a devoted advocate for the arts and president of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, will receive the “Ernie”. C.C. Conner, the former long-standing managing director of the Houston Ballet before his recent retirement, will receive the Trustees Award. The awards will be given on Thurs., June 28, 2012 during the Dance/USA Honors Celebration, which is part of the Dance/USA Annual Conference being held June 27–30 in San Francisco, CA.
“We are thrilled to honor these individuals who through their leadership, innovation and passion have made outstanding contributions to dance. While they each have focused their work on different aspects of the art form, they share a dedication to advancing the field,” said Ruby Lockhart, Chair, Dance/USA Board of Trustees.
Presented annually by the Dance/USA Board of Trustees, the Dance/USA Honor, “Ernie”, and Trustees Award are given to outstanding members of the national dance community. The Honor goes to an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in the dance field through artistic excellence and/or force of vision. The “Ernie”, named for the late Ian (Ernie) Horvath, goes to an individual working “behind the scenes” in the dance field, who has significantly empowered artists and supported their creativity individually or as a community. And, the Trustees Award recognizes an outstanding professional whose work has special significance to the field.
Helgi Tomasson will be recognized for his extraordinary and lasting contributions to the field, including his leadership as artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet, garnering the company international recognition for its purity and verve. A world-renown choreographer, Mr. Tomasson has choreographed more than 40 ballets, including full-length productions of the classics as well as intricate and varied works that showcase the unique qualities of individual dancers. Read more.
Sam Miller will be honored for his devotion to the dance field, including his work to increase direct support for artists, as president of the Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC), his dedicated services on several boards, and leadership in advancing the field. Read more.
C.C. Conner will be honored for his exemplary leadership of the Houston Ballet over the past 17 years. During this time, he planned and executed numerous national and international touring engagements and, in recent years, managed a series of innovative collaborations with major American ballet companies to produce new full-length productions. Mr. Conner also serves on several boards and committees for local and national arts organizations. Read more.
Dance/USA is deeply grateful to DeWitt Stern Group for their support of our 30th Anniversary year and their generous sponsorship of the 2012 Honors Celebration.
About the Dance/USA 2012 Annual Conference
Dance/USA’s 2012 Annual Conference will take place in San Francisco, CA from Wed., June 27–Sat., June 30, 2012. The conference is the country’s broadest gathering of dance professionals, including executive directors, artistic directors, company managers, choreographers, artists, presenters, agents, and others. This year’s conference includes more than 50 speakers who will conduct more than 20 educational sessions on a variety of highly relevant topics. Sessions be held in multiple venues, including host partners, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and ODC Dance Campus.
Dance/USA is grateful to American Airlines and American Harlequin Corporation, title sponsors of the 2012 Annual Conference.
About Dance/USA
Celebrating 30 years of dance – Established in 1982, Dance/USA is the national service organization for the professional dance field, serving over 460 ballet, modern, ethnic, jazz and tap companies, dance service and presenting organizations, individuals and related organizations. Dance/USA sustains and advances professional dance by addressing the needs, concerns, and interests of artists, administrators and organizations. By providing services and national leadership, Dance/USA enhances the infrastructure for dance creation, education and dissemination. Learn more about Dance/USA and our branch offices by visiting: www.danceusa.org.
