At the 39th annual Bessies (the New York Dance and Performance Awards), Virginia Johnson, founding member and former artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH), will receive the Lifetime Achievement in Dance award, and Michele Byrd-McPhee, founder and executive director of Ladies of Hip-Hop, will receive this year’s award for Outstanding Service to the Field of Dance. The New York Dance and Performance Awards will be held on Friday, August 4, at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park as part of Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City.  

Johnson joined the company in 1969, dancing principal roles in classical, neoclassical, and contemporary works such as Giselle, A Streetcar Named Desire and more. She was appointed artistic director of DTH by founder Arthur Mitchell in 2010. Johnson ventured into choreography but her interest in journalism led her to Fordham University where she pursued a degree in communications. After retiring from performing, she studied serigraphy, filmmaking, and television production before becoming the founding editor-in-chief of POINTE magazine from 2000 to 2009. In July 2023, Johnson officially stepped down as artistic director of the dance company and passed artistic leadership of DTH to Robert Garland, DTH’s resident choreographer.

Ladies of Hip-Hop is a nonprofit organization empowering girls and women through hip-hop culture and arts. Byrd-McPhee worked in TV and arts production for many years and in 2020, was awarded an Integrated Arts Residency Fellowship grant at University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she taught her course, “Hip-Hop, Women and the World.”

Nominees for the 2023 Bessies are as follows.

Outstanding Choreographer/Creator: Vanessa Anspaugh, LaTasha Barnes, Sidra Bell, Jessica Chen, Dormeshia, Rennie Harris, Deborah Hay, Benjamin Akio Kimitch, Jordan Demetrius Lloyd, Shamel Pitts, Lia Rodrigues, and Omari Wiles.

Outstanding Revival: Pina Bausch & Tanztheater Wuppertal, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, Garth Fagan & Garth Fagan Dance, Twyla Tharp

Outstanding Sound Design/Music Composition: Roman Bestion, Fouad Boussouf, and Marion Castor, Graham Reynolds, Evil Tracy the International Showoff and DJ Razor Ramon, Charles Turner and Sean.

Outstanding “Breakout” Choreographer: Bryan and Shaina Baira of BAIRA, Symara Johnson, Soles of Duende: Amanda Castro, Brinda Guha, Arielle Rosales, marion spencer

Outstanding Performer: Billy Barry, j. bouey, Amanda Castro, Joyce Edwards, Timothy Edwards, Rachel Harris, Niall Jones, Albert Silindokuhle Ibokwe Khoza, Maleek Washington, Ensemble: Anand Bolder, Louise Dahl, Freddy Houndekindo, Eliott Marmouset, Adam Schütt, Johanna Tengan, Vincent Van Der Plas, Ensemble: bree breeden, Wendell Gray II, José Lapaz Rodriguez, Jordan Demetrius Lloyd, Mia Martelli, Mykel Marai Nairne, Owen Prum, Kennedy Thomas,  and Ensemble: Marielys Burgos-Meléndez, Rafael V. Cañals Pérez, Christopher “Unpezverde” Núñez.

Outstanding Visual Design: Isabela Dos Santos (Animation), Sarai Frazier (Lighting), Zane Pihlström (Costume and Stage Design), Tina Tzoka and Loukas Bakas (Set Design), Stephanos Droussiotis (Lighting Design), Nektarios Dionysatos (Props), Dimitris Korres (Mechanical Inventions).

The queer pop duo The Illustrious Blacks (Manchildblack x Monstah Black) will host this year’s ceremony, and presenters include Mireicy Aquino, George Faison, Jhailyn Farcon, Dionne Figgins, Erin Fogerty, Tiffany Geigel, Dyane Harvey Salaam, Karisma Jay, Gian Marco Riccardo Lo Forte, Fredrick Earl Mosley, Abdel Salaam, Paz Tanjuaquio, and Ms Vee. 

The 2023 Bessie Jury panelists—Ayodele Casel, Kyle Marshall, and luciana achugar—will present the award to this year’s Juried honoree. 

Admission is free.  Find out more about the event and register for tickets at https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/the-bessie-awards-829.

The post The 2023 Bessies Awards! appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

The dog days of summer are upon us, and one Queens neighborhood is devoting August to furry friends.

In honor of National Dog Month in August, Long Island City is becoming a doggie destination with a “Dog Island Summer” initiative to highlight all the ways the area is dog (and human) friendly. In fact, LIC is one of New York’s neighborhoods with the highest number of dogs per capita. 

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Upcoming dog promos include a free customized frisbee for your dog with meal or burger purchase at Frank Ottomanelli’s on the Water during the first two weeks of August. During the last two weeks of the month, get a treat for your dog (milk bone or ice cream) with a human meal purchase. Dogtopia of Long Island City is offering a free day of dog daycare after successful evaluation; Matted LIC Gallery is offering visiting dogs bandanas plus 10% off custom framing; and Throw Me A Bone Inc. is offering 50% off your first dog daycare package.

On Wednesday, August 30, show off your pup at “Haute Dog,” The Baroness Dog Beauty Pageant and furry fashion show, with free entry. The first 25 pups to enter get a free gourmet doggie hot dog.

An interactive dog-themed public art installation designed by local Queens artists, “Dog Island Summer” is now on view in Rafferty Triangle through November 1. Designed and fabricated by LeMonde Studio, artistic elements include a large fire hydrant, a dog biscuit-shaped park bench, a large collar featuring popular local dog names, and two music boxes covered in original designs by local artists Ashley Betito and Kerri Boccard. The music boxes play original songs from Queens musicians including the Broadway Junior team from Queens Community School 111 and Argentinian jazz musician, Yanko Valdes. 

For a day on the town with some off-leash time, Long Island City is also home to several public dog runs: The Dog Park Of Gantry Plaza State Park, Hunter’s Point South Dog Run, LIC Dog Park, and Murray Playground Dog Run. 

* This article was originally published here

The bold-colored, expressive characters of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s artwork are instantly recognizable — and a staple of the 1980s art scene. Soon, fans of the late artist will be able to gather in an event that honors Basquiat in his home borough. 

On Thursday, September 7, The Green-Wood Cemetery (the site of Basquiat’s burial) is hosting a tribute to the Brooklyn-based artist. From Canvas to Stage: A Tribute to Basquiat will honor the influential artist’s legacy with a night full of art, poetry and music.

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Prominent musicians and poets will perform between Green-Wood’s iconic gothic arch and historic chapel in front of a backdrop displaying work by contemporary artists inspired by and in honor of Basquiat. 

Already, Basquiat’s grave at Green-Wood is a gathering place for many. New Yorkers and visitors alike often stop by, leaving behind tokens like artwork, letters and art supplies.

“The grave of Jean Michel-Basquiat is the most visited site in our historic cemetery, and it’s no wonder. His art, which addressed themes of racism, inequality, consumerism, and more, speaks to all generations,” Richard J. Moylan, president of The Green-Wood Cemetery, said in a press release.

Basquiat achieved great success during his lifetime (1960–1988). The works of the famed artist speak to the essence of life in the 1980s, combining signature phrases and monikers (SAMO) with graffiti-style art — which is how Basquiat got his start. Basquiat quickly went on to show his work in packed galleries across the world and sell his pieces for thousands. 

The artist’s untimely death at the age of 27 has left many wondering what more he could have accomplished, had his life not been cut short. But in 2023, Basquiat’s legacy is alive and well. It continues to thrive in the works of current contemporary artists and in the hearts of many more. 

The tribute event, produced by WordSmith and creative Danny Simmons, will be hosted by multidisciplinary artist Ainsley Burrows and will feature the following creatives: 

Music

• Lezlie Harrison
• Shrine for the Black Madonna
• Firey Strings Company with Nioka Workman

Poetry

• Toni Blackman
• Ainsley Burrows
• Kraal “Kayo” Charles
• Derick D. Cross
• Vanessa Hidary
• Abiodun Oyewole (The Last Poets)
• Danny Simmons

Visual Art

• Patrick Dougher
• Raphael Tiberino
• Ainsley Burrows
• Anthony Carlos Molden
• Danny Simmons

Performances will run from 7pm to 10pm. Standard tickets are $45 and $40 for members, available for purchase here.

* This article was originally published here