Dance/USA Awards

Dance/USA Honor Award
The Honor Award is given to an individual for demonstrated achievements, extraordinary leadership, and exceptional contributions to the national dance ecosystem which consistently reflect a high level of artistic excellence, creative force of vision, and breadth of work.

Dance/USA ‘Ernie’ Award
The ‘Ernie’ Award is given to an individual working “behind the scenes” within the infrastructure of the national dance community, who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, outstanding value in the ecosystem, and whose achievements have influenced and significantly advanced the work of artists and supported their creativity.

The ‘Ernie’ Award is named for the late dancer, choreographer, director, AIDS activist, and dance champion Ian ‘Ernie’ Horvath, in recognition of his important role in dance history and his passionate commitment to growing and strengthening the national dance community.

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 ecosystem.

Dance/USA Champion Award
The Champion Award is given to any organization, business, foundation, or individual within Dance/USA’s national Conference host city whose achievements, leadership, and support have sustained and/or significantly advanced dance in the local community.

Dance/USA Emerging Leader Award
The Emerging Leader Award is presented to an individual in the Dance/USA National Conference host city who has made significant contributions to the city’s dance ecosystem in the first 10 years of their career and/or demonstrates exemplary potential as a future leader but may not currently be in a formal leadership position. The inaugural presentation of this award will take place at the 2025 National Conference, June 17-20, in Chicago, IL.