Kansas City Ballet served as the host of the 9th annual conference for Dance/USA annual (June 7-10, 2017).
Wednesday
The conference began with an awards ceremony on Wednesday night at Union Station’s Grand Hall and Sprint Festival Plaza. As a special treat, KC Mayor Sly James welcomed the crowd. Awards and award winners included:
- 2017 Dance/USA Trustee Award presented to Douglas Sonntag
- 2017 Dance/USA Ernie Award presented to Gina Gibney
- 2017 Dance/USA Honoree Award presented to Cleo Parker Robinson
- 2017 Dance/USA Champion Award presented to KC’s own Billie Mahoney
Thursday
Thursday started off with an address from Executive Director of Dance/USA Amy Fitterer, followed by a special welcome from National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu, and then keynote by Dawn J. Fraser talking about the importance of storytelling at the Kauffman Center. Read more about the speakers here. Breakout sessions for attendees began that afternoon at The National WWI Museum and Memorial. The night was officially capped with a Kansas City New Dance Partners performance back at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in the Muriel Kauffman Theatre. Owen/Cox Dance Group, Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company and Kansas City Ballet performed on the program.
Friday
Friday was filled with more breakout sessions in both the morning and afternoon at Kansas City Ballet’s Home,
Friday was filled with more breakout sessions in both the morning and afternoon at Kansas City Ballet’s Home,
the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity. Kansas City Ballet hosted the lunch. That evening, attendees were invited to a preview screening of the new documentary “No Dominion: The Ian Horvath Story”. The film celebrated the life and career of the late Ian ‘Ernie’ Horvath, a dancer, choreographer, director, and champion for both dance and AIDS awareness.
Saturday
The conference concluded on Saturday with a final morning of breakout sessions at the Bolender Center, followed by a closing keynote speaker Jawole Willa Jo Zollar who was originally from KC before moving to NYC and founding Urban Bush Women.
Thank you to all of the 2017 Annual Conference Sponsors, Dance/USA, the Host Committee, and attendees. Kansas City Ballet is so grateful for the opportunity to host you.
