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The Martha Hill Dance Fund is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2012 MHDF AWARDS. This year the board has selected two quite deserving individuals to receive the 2012 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Gemze De Lappe and Yuriko Kikuchi.
H.T. Chen
Gemze de Lappe is an American dancer who worked very closely with Agnes de Mille and was frequently partnered by de Mille’s favorite male dancer, James Mitchell. Originally trained by Irma Duncan and Michel Fokine, de Lappe began her career in Fokine’s company. Her Broadway musical theatre performance credits include Simon of Legree in the original production of The King and I (also in the film version), Paint Your Wagon (Donaldson Award winner), Juno, and The American Dance Machine. De Lappe’s long concert dance career included engagements with American Ballet Theatre and the Agnes de Mille Dance Theatre.
Yuriko Kikuchi known to audiences by her stage name Yuriko, is an American dancer and choreographer. She is best known for her work with the Martha Graham Dance Company. She began studying with Martha Graham in 1944 and continued with the company for the next 50 years. She danced in the first production of Graham’s masterpiece, Clytemnestra, as well as in Appalachian Spring, Cave of the Heart, and Dark Meadow. In addition to her work in modern dance, Yuriko performed on Broadway in the first performances of The King and I (1951–54) and The Flower Drum Song (1958–60). She formed her own modern dance company in 1967, which remained active until 1973.
MHDF is also delighted to announce the recipients of the 2012 MID CAREER AWARD:
H.T. Chen and Dian Dong. The award will be presented by Ming Cho Lee, reknown set designer of theater and Tony award winner for Broadway productions.
Mr. Chen’s background is in both Chinese and Western dance and theater. To Mr. Chen, providing cultural arts services to the local community is as important as creating new works. The School, established in 1980 as a year-round performing arts school in Chinatown, currently offers classes in ballet, modern dance, wushu, and piano. In 1988, Mr. Chen established the Theater (formerly known as Mulberry St Theater), Chinatown’s first performing arts venue that presents several modern dance series. newsteps, a semi-annual series, supports new choreography through showcase opportunities and production support; the Ear to the Ground series provides commissions and production support for emerging Asian artists; and Co-presentations allows the Theater and studios to support independent modern dance choreographers looking to produce or rehearse their own work.
Dian Dong, a graduate of The Juilliard School and Stanford Business School EPNL-ARTS Program, has worked with Anna Sokolow’s Players’ Project, Kathryn Posin, Janet Soares, Lance Westergard, Kazuko Hirabayashi, Lincoln Center Institute, the ADF 25th Anniversary Repertory Company, Walter Nicks and the national tour of The King & I. She has taught at NYU School of Ed., Montclair State College, the Center for Modern Dance Ed. and Chen Dance Center. Ms. Dong organizes and designs the education programs for Chen Dance Center’s homebased and residency programs.
This year the board has turned to Jacobs Pillow to assist in the selection of the 2012 Young Professional Award from their ranks. This year’s awardee is Lissa Nicole Smith
The awards will be presented at the annual MHDF AWARDS GALA DINNER on November 26, 2012, 6:00pm at the Manhattan Penthouse, Manhattan Penthouse, 80 Fifth Avenue, 17th Floor, NYC. The evening, year after year has consistently been not only a wonderful celebration of outstanding individuals, but also a reunion of old friends and associates making new connections.
