The Bessies at the Apollo Tonight!

October 14, 2012

Sure it’s an Awards show, but equally important is the fact that the Bessies is a collaboration between several NYC dance institutions. For years it was the amiable co-production of Dance Theater Workshop, Danspace Project, and the Joyce. Now the Bessies are done in collaboration with Dance/NYC, but other trusty organizations are involved: the Field, the Apollo, and the Studio Museum in Harlem.

Talking about Harlem, it’s kinda perfect that the Apollo is the new venue for the Bessies. As I wrote in my blog last year, it turned into a kind of love fest.

This year the ceremony (as boisterous as a ceremony can be) is hosted by Elizabeth Streb. The presenters include Marina Abramovic, luciana achugar, Ron Brown, tapper Brenda Bufalino, Archie Burnett (the star of the documentary on house dancing Check Your Body at the Door), Stuart Hodes (that charming former partner to Martha Graham), Bebe Neuwirth, ABT director Kevin McKenzie, ADF guiding light Charles Reinhart, hip-hop maven Rokafella, dancer-turned performance artist David Thomson, and NYC’s own edgy ballerina, Wendy Whelan.

 

Performances by Souleymane Badolo and Trisha Brown Company adorn the show.

If you don’t have a ticket, go to this site. I hope to see you there.