Features > Dance NewsHappenings in the Field

Dance News: The 32nd Annual Bessie Awards at BAM Announce Host and Special Awards

And the Host is? What do Bessies Awardees have to Say? Check it all out here and Come to the Bessies at BAM on October 18th.

The NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, New York City’s premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, announced the host and presenters for the 32nd Annual Bessie Awards. Award-winning choreographer, writer, and comedian Adrienne Truscott will host this year’s ceremony. The 32nd Annual Bessie Awards will be held on Tuesday, October 18, at 7:30pm, at BAM Howard Gilman Opera House. Doors open at 6:30pm for red carpet and pre-show celebrations

Adrienne Truscott; Photo by Allison Michael Orenstein

The illustrious lineup of presenters includes Tei Blow, Katy Clark, Ayodele Casel, Ishmael Houston-Jones, Judy Hussie-Taylor, Judith Jamison, Alastair Macaulay, Joan Myers Brown, Amar Ramasar, Regg Roc, Carlota Santana and Alice Sheppard.

This year, the Bessies will honor renowned choregrapher  Eiko Otake with a Special Citation for her expansive and transformative A Body in Places platform, produced presented by Danspace Project. Acclaimed composer and director Meredith Monk will present the award to Ms. Otake.

Eiko Otake; Photo by William Johnston

As previously announced, the evening will also include special presentations to Brenda Bufalino, recipient of the 2016 Bessie for Lifetime Achievement in Dance, and to The Jerome Robbins Dance Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and Alex Smith, Executive Chairman of the Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center, both recipients of awards for Outstanding Service to the Field of Dance.

Brenda Bufalino, Recipient of the 2016 Bessie for Lifetime Achievement in Dance

The Bessie Awards ceremony will feature a performance by Joya Powell, recipient of the 2016 Outstanding Emerging Choreographer Award, Donald McKayle’s Rainbow ’Round My Shoulder (2016 Bessie for Outstanding Revival), performed by Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and produced by Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance, and an all-star tap tribute to Brenda Bufalino.

Alex Smith, Executive Chairman of Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center,

Recipient of Award for Outstanding Service to the Field of Dance.

Tickets for the 32nd Annual Bessie Awards start at $10 and can be purchased by phone at 718-636-4100 and online at www.bam.org. The BAM Howard Gilman Opera House is located at 30 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn.

A post-ceremony party will be held at BRIC, 647 Fulton Street, in Brooklyn. All Bessie ticket holders are welcome to attend.

Produced in partnership with Dance/NYC, the Bessies recognize exceptional and groundbreaking work in choreography, performance, music composition, and visual design. For a complete list of 2015−16 Bessie nominees, go to: www.bessies.org.Brenda Bufalino, recipient of the 2016 Bessie for Lifetime Achievement in Dance,

The Dance Enthusiast Sharing Dance News and Creating Conversation.

Check out More Dance News in our From The Press Section.