Dixon Place is proud to host this year’s Bessies Award event. As a Bessie Award–winning institution itself—and with founder Ellie Covan recognized with a Bessie in 1989—Dixon Place has long been a home for bold, innovative dance artists. We are honored to continue this deep connection with the Bessies and to celebrate the extraordinary creators who shape the future of dance.
The New York Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, New York City’s premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, announced the nominees for the 2024 & 2025 Bessie Awards. The Bessie Awards announcement will be held on January 20 at 7pm at Dixon Place Theater, 161A Chrystie Street, NY 10002.
The Bessie Awards Selection Committee, an independent committee of dance industry professionals, makes nominations. Performances presented from April 1, 2023 until March 31, 2024 AND from April 1, 2024 until March 31, 2025 were eligible for consideration. Award categories include Outstanding Choreographer/Creator, Outstanding Performer, Outstanding Revival, Outstanding Sound Design or Music Composition, Outstanding Visual Design, and Outstanding Breakout Choreographer. Additional awards are given for Lifetime Achievement, and Outstanding Service to the Field of Dance.
List of 2024 and 2025 Nominees.
2024 & 2025 Lifetime Achievement &
Outstanding Service to the field of Dance
The 2023–2024 Bessie Awards Selection Committee: Tyler Ashley, PeiJu Chien-Pott, Yoshiko Chuma, Duke Dang, Porshia A. Derival, Gregory English, Hannah Garner, Celia Ipiotis, William Isaac, Anabella Lenzu, Gian Marco Riccardo Lo Forte, Shalewa Mackall, zavé martohardjono, Yoko Murakami,, David Persky, Lynn Schwab, Rakia Seaborn, Alex Smith, Ivan Talijančić, Kate Thomas, Farren Wood, and Nami Yamamoto.
The 2024–2025 Bessie Awards Selection Committee: Tyler Ashley, PeiJu Chien-Pott, Yoshiko Chuma, Duke Dang, Gregory English, Jens Richard Giersdorf, Kyla Gordon, Celia Ipiotis, William Isaac, Raelle Myrick Hodges, Suzzanne Ponomarenko, Rakia Seaborn, Alex Smith, Kate Thomas, Farren Wood, Nami Yamamoto, and Sangeeta Yesley.
The Bessies Steering Committee (2023-2024): Paz Tanjuaquio (chair), Yvonne H. Chow, Stanford Makishi, maura nguyễn donohue, Nicky Paraiso, Craig Peterson, Tiffany Rea-Fisher, george emilio sanchez, and Charmaine Warren.
The Bessies Steering Committee (2024-2025): Stanford Makishi, maura nguyen donohue, Nicky Paraiso, Craig Peterson, Tiffany Rea-Fisher, george emilio sanchez, and Charmaine Warren.
ABOUT THE BESSIES
The New York Dance and Performance Awards have saluted outstanding and groundbreaking creative work in the dance field in New York City for 41 years. Known as “The Bessies” in honor of revered dance teacher Bessie Schönberg, the awards were established in 1984 by David R. White at Dance Theater Workshop. They recognize choreography, performance, music composition, visual design, legacy, and service to the field of dance by independent dance artists and organizations. Nominees are chosen by a selection committee composed of artists, presenters, producers, and writers. For more information about The Bessies, visit www.bessies.org.
ABOUT DIXON PLACE
An artistic incubator since 1986, Dixon Place is a Bessie and Obie Award-winning non-profit institution committed to supporting the creative process by presenting original works of theatre, dance, music, puppetry, circus arts, literature and visual art at all stages of development. Presenting over 1000 creators a year, this local haven inspires and encourages diverse artists of all stripes and callings to take risks, generate new ideas, and consummate new practices.
The artist’s experience is given top priority through our professional atmosphere and remuneration, and their process is enhanced by our adventurous audiences. With a renewed commitment to racial equity and justice, Dixon Place is a local haven for creativity as well as an international model for the open exploration of the process of creation.
Visit: dixonplace.org
FAQ:
What are my transport/parking options getting to the event? Here is the transportation link to Dixon Place: https://dixonplace.org/about-us/location/Delancey and Essex Municipal Parking Garage on 105-113 Essex Street & 112-120 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002, is very affordable and is about 5 blocks from Dixon Place, about 7 min walk.