Minnesota SAGE Dance Awards

The 7th annual SAGE Awards was held in The Goodale Theater in The new Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts

October 11, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

Emcee: Kenna Camara Cottman 

Musical guest: Kenn Wanaku & SUNplug'd

Awards created by: Paul Gill

Performances by past honorees: Hijack, Penelope Freeh and Zenon Dance Company

2010-11 Panelists:  Karen Charles, Deborah Elias, Jessica Fiala, Wynn Fricke, Mathew Janczewski, Wendy Kaufmann, Diyah Larasati, Mary Kelley Leer, Derek Phillips, Sally Rousse, Abdo Sayegh, Karen Sherman

Awardees are as follows in alphabetical order:

Outstanding Performance 

• Feet Don’t Fail Me Now! - Rhythmic Circus (Nick Bowman, Ricci Milan, Kaleena Miller)
• The Thank-you Bar - Emily Johnson/Catalyst + BLACKFISH
• Who Made These Videotapes? - Laurie Van Wieren

Outstanding Performer 

• Alanna Morris - TU Dance spring concert and Dreams: A Solo
• Greg Waletski - Like an Octopus and Anatomy of a Viciously Sweet

 Outstanding Ensemble  

• Dancers of Feet Don’t Fail Me Now by Rhythmic Circus

Outstanding Design

• Costumes for Journey - Sonya Berlovitz
• Video, lighting and music for Heaven – Robert Hammel & Steve Campbell (video), Marcus Dilliard (lighting), Chan Poling and Natalie Nowytski/Peter O’Gorman/Victor Zupanc/Joe Chvala (score and music)

Outstanding Dance Educator

• Toni Pierce-Sands

Special Citation

• Linda Shapiro

2011 Minnesota Sage Award nominees list:

Outstanding Performance Nominees (3 Honorees)

 (A show, a work or piece of choreography.  An audience must be present at the performance.  Interdisciplinary work can be considered.  Award will go to the creator or creators of the performance.)

• The Evaporation of Time - Luke Olson-Elm
• Feet Don’t Fail Me Now! - Rhythmic Circus (Nick Bowman, Ricci Milan, Kaleena Miller)
• The Thank-you Bar - Emily Johnson/Catalyst + BLACKFISH
• TU Dance Fall Season – Uri Sands
• Who Made These Videotapes? - Laurie Van Wieren

Outstanding Performer Nominees  (2 Honorees)

  (A single dancer, dancers in an ensemble or a group.  No limit to number of performers in a group. An audience must be present.)

• Katie Johnson – Tears Rolling
• Kaleena Miller - Fleet
• Alanna Morris - TU Dance spring concert and Dreams: A Solo
• Eddie Oroyan -  Journey and Woyzeck
• Greg Waletski - Like an Octopus and Anatomy of a Viciously Sweet

Outstanding Ensemble Nominees  (1 Honoree)

(A performance ensemble or a group.  No limit to number of performers in a group.)

• Cast of Awaken Absurdity – Part Two: The Field by Taja Will
• Cast of Feet Don’t Fail Me Now! by Rhythmic Circus
• SuperGroup for Oh, I Didn't See You There: The St. Firebell Story, Spring Dance Unrated and SuperGroup Dances in the Face of the Shelf They Built Last Year and Also Builds Another Little Tiny Shelf
• TU Dance ensemble for Fall concert and Spring concert

Outstanding Design Award Nominees (2 Honorees)

(This artist or group of artists work in the areas of costume design, lighting design, music composition and sound design, set design, installation, film or video.)

• Costumes and props for Journey - Sonya Berlovitz
• Set and costumes for Woyzeck - Annie Katsura Rollins
• Set design and lighting for For She –A Little Found Object - Marcus Dilliard 
• Video, lighting and music for Heaven – Robert Hammel & Steve Campbell (video), Marcus Dilliard (lighting), Chan Poling and Natalie Nowytski/Peter O’Gorman/Victor Zupanc/Joe Chvala (score and music)

Outstanding Dance Educator Nominees (1 Honoree):

(1 Award for a dance educator/teacher for their commitment and accomplishment in the field of dance education. This award can include efforts from past seasons or over a career.)

• Judith Howard 
• Ellen Keane and Cathy Keane Wind      
• Toni Pierce-Sands 
• Zoe Sealy 

Special Citation Nominees (1 Honoree):

 (1 Award for anyone who has a strong connection to the field of dance in Minnesota, including past efforts or work from past seasons.)

• Jeff Bartlett 
• John Munger 
• John Linnerson
• Linda Shapiro