Broadwayworld Dance Review: 2018 Dance Magazine Awards, December 3, 2018.

I was asked by a friend about the 2018 Dance Magazine Awards. Confession: She knows nothing about dance.

What was it like?

The introductions by Misty Copeland-no introduction needed-and Wendy Perron, Editor at Large of Dance Magazine, were charming and heartfelt; the awards to Michael Trusnovec, Crystal Pite and Lourdes Lopez were well deserved, and I'd like to note that Ms. Lopez is a truly outstanding public speaker; the inaugural leadership award to Nigel Reddden, ditto; and the inaugural Harkness Promise awards to Raja Feather Kelly and Ephrat "Bounce" Asherie, ibid.

I'm not trying to be funny or flippant, just in case you wanted to know., I confessed.

She just smiled, no problem.

Excellent performances from the groups involved; too many hollers and whoops from audience members; and after a while that feeling of "I've seen and heard all this before" began creeping in.

So I began thinking: these awards are fun, and the awardees have accomplished something significant, yet there's still more. Others have also made huge contributions to the dance field, yet they never receive recognition, others are trying to build companies that never materialize; there are still those choreographers toiling away in some basement, many with talent but no money; attempts to make a living; while working two jobs, talking with friends about future dreams and hopes. And so forth and so on.

Many of us have been there, and I know so many who are still there. And others who have moved on beyond the dance world into other professions.

So why do people go into dance? No doubt there's an element of craziness, but also one of dedication and devotion. The awardees have been at it for years with success and failure-they've learned. And all those in the field are doing just that-and will continue to do that. Because it's something that we love and care about.

So as much as I applaud all the honorees, I would like to extend my congratulations and heartfelt applause to all of you in the dance world, choreographing, presenting, decorating, raising money, collapsing with fatigue at night, writing-you name it!!!!!

Maybe we should give an award one year to EVERYONE that is now in the dance field.

I'd surely drink to that.

So would my friend. One day she hopes to attend a Dance Magazine ceremony.

Photograph: Lourdes Lopez.

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