The New York Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies has announced restructuring the organization in 2024 with sustainability at the forefront. This year, for the first time, the Bessies will welcome an inaugural board of directors. Members of the board include Dave Archuletta, Aziza A. Bowser, Esq., and Charles Vincent Burwell. Together, they will work to pursue independent nonprofit status for the Awards, as well as expand fundraising practices within the organization. In addition to incorporating as a 501(c)3, the board plans to build partnerships with mission-aligned organizations in order to further its impact in the community.

 

“We are thrilled to be in this stage of development, that our work can continue long into the future. This is the right time, these are the right actions, and the right folks supporting the next phase of The Bessies,” said Heather Robles, Bessies Executive Director.

 

“This is a time of evolution for The Bessie Awards. As we build a sustainable future for the organization, we are excited to incorporate as a non-profit organization, and envision a restructuring that meets the needs of the community,” said Aziza A. Bowser, Esq., President of the Bessies Board of Directors.

 

To focus resources on fundraising and restructuring efforts, The Bessies will pause on holding in-person events in 2024. While the annual Bessie Awards Ceremony, Angel Party, and Press Conference will be paused, the award selection and nomination process will continue. Artists nominated for Bessies in 2024 will be announced publicly in 2025, alongside the 2025 Bessies nominated artists. The Bessies Selection Committee continues to attend performances and nominate artistic work happening in the five boroughs without interruption.

 

The Bessies invites the community to attend virtual Roundtable Discussions to learn more about the restructuring and provide input for moving forward. Roundtables will take place on Thursday, September 12 from 5:30pm-6:30pm ET, Wednesday, September 18 from 6pm-7pm ET, and Thursday, September 19 from 5:30pm-6:30pm ET. To attend a Roundtable, email Bessies Associate Manager Dalia Engelberg at Dalia@bessies.org.

 

About The Bessies

 

The New York Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies have saluted outstanding and groundbreaking creative work by independent dance artists in NYC for 40 years. Known as “The Bessie” in honor of revered dance teacher Bessie Schönberg, the awards were established in 1984 by David White at Dance Theater Workshop. They recognize groundbreaking work in choreography, performance, music composition, visual design, legacy, and service to the field of dance.

 

A Selection Committee comprised of artists, presenters, producers, designers and writers choose nominees. All those working in the dance field are invited to join The Bessies Membership—members participate in annual discussions on the direction of the awards and nominate members to serve on the Selection Committee. The mission of The Bessies is to recognize groundbreaking dance and performance work performed in New York City, to gather the city’s dance-making communities, and to advocate for New York dance nationally and internationally. For more information, visit bessies.org.

 

The 2024-2025 Bessie Awards Selection Committee: Tyler Ashley, PeiJu Chien-Pott, Yoshiko Chuma, Duke Dang, Gregory English, 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: Stanford Makishi, maura nguyễn donohue, Nicky Paraiso, Craig Peterson, Tiffany Rea-Fisher, george emílio sanchez, and Charmaine Warren.N

 

Follow The Bessies on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: #TheBessies / @bessieawards