MCB Founder Toby Lerner Ansin to be Honored by Dance/USA
Washington, DC – Dance/USA, the national service organization for professional dance, is pleased to announce the 2015 Dance/USA Honorees:
- Trisha Brown, founding artistic director and choreographer, Trisha Brown Dance Company, will receive the Dance/USA Honor Award in absentia.
- Linda Shelton, executive director, The Joyce Theater Foundation, will receive the Dance/USA Ernie Award.
- Raven Wilkinson, whose talent and skill enabled her to become the first African American woman to break the color line and dance with a major classical ballet company, will receive the Dance/USA Trustees Award.
- Toby Lerner Ansin, founder, Miami City Ballet, will receive the Dance/USA Champion Award.
The awards will be given on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at the Opening Night Celebration, which kicks off the 2015 Dance/USA Annual Conference being held June 17-20, 2015 in Miami, Florida. The Dance/USA Annual Conference is the country’s broadest gathering of dance professionals, offering expertise from industry leaders, enriching professional development, and the tools to move the dance field forward. Early Bird Rates for the 2015 Annual Conference are available until April 17, 2015.
“Trisha, Linda, Raven, and Toby are groundbreaking, influential leaders in our field,” said Dance/USA Executive Director Amy Fitterer. “They have each broken the glass ceiling in a unique way, each Honoree is known for her powerful talent and vision, and they have all substantially impacted the world of professional dance.”
“These awards are special,” continued Fitterer. “The Dance/USA membership singled out these individuals for recognition and we look forward to celebrating their accomplishments this June in Miami.”