Last night, it was such a pleasure to attend the Dance Treasure Awards Ceremony Awards Party organized by Cheryl Goodman, Executive Director of Dance Baltimore. The event was held at the Hippodrome Theater at the France Merrick Performing Arts Center. The Dance Treasure Award “is a recognition of a lifetime of dedication, artistic excellence and tireless service and contribution to dance throughout the Baltimore Metropolitan community.”
The 2023 Dance Baltimore Dance Treasure Awards Ceremony was made possible with the generous support of The Hippodrome Foundation, a long-time supporter of Dance Baltimore and the dance community.
Honorees included two icons of the Baltimore dance community: Shirley Duncan, co-founder of Charm City Dancers and once called the Hand Dancing Queen by The Afro Newspaper. Ms. Duncan has taught and inspired generations of dancers. She received the North Atlantic Championship for Hand Dance (1999), was the first runner up (2000) for “World’s Greatest Hand Dance Competition,” won the first place for National Hand Dance Competition (2000), and won a gold medal from the National Creative Festival (sponsored by the Veterans Administration, 2000).
Ava Fields has also taught and inspired hundreds of kids through the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, churches, and numerous after-school programs. She is a native of Baltimore, attended Morgan State University, and received her training at the Peabody Institute of Maryland, American Dance Theater of New York, and Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in New York.
The third awardee, Mark Sissman, former president of Healthy Neighborhoods and the Hippodrome Foundation, helped Dance Baltimore in its early years to find spaces to perform. He also was instrumental in the development of the Hippodrome Theater at the France Merrick Performing Arts and Everyman Theater, and is currently supporting efforts to develop the former Ambassador Theater as a dance and community arts space in Howard Park in Northwest Baltimore. Congratulations to all three!
Are you interested in learning about artists based and creating work in Baltimore?
The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) announced the 2023 Baltimore Open Studio Tour Weekend (BOS) on Saturday and Sunday, May 6–7, 2023, from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm.
The BOS Tour Weekend is a citywide event that brings professional artists and the public together. It gives art lovers, students, collectors, and creative influencers the opportunity to meet, connect, and purchase art from some of Baltimore City’s most talented artists.
Mark your calendar today!
Jeannie
P.S. There’s just 11 more days to apply to Urban Arts Leadership! Here’s a link to apply or share with the talented emerging leaders of color in your life!
