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Hartt Dancer Receives National Award

December 10, 2021
Submitted By: Stephen Pier
Alex Meridien

Awardee Receives Grant of $10,000 in Addition to Mentorship and Training. Finalist, Blue Richardson, also from Hartt, receives 6 months of free classes.

"We are extraordinarily proud of both of these young artists and the acknowledgement of their dedication, vision, and artistic citizenship!"  ~ Dance Division Director, Stephen Pier

The Merce Cunningham Trust today announces Alex Larson as one of two recipients natioanlly of the Barbara Ensley Award, inaugurated this year with the aim of expanding opportunities for BIPOC dance artists to engage with and benefit from the legacy of Merce Cunningham, and to provide the resources and stability to explore and participate in the broader New York City dance community. The award is named in honor of Merce Cunningham Studio faculty member Barbara Ensley (1936-2021), who taught the Fundamentals class taken by incoming students. The award furthers the Trust’s mission to share the legacy of Merce Cunningham as broadly as possible and to promote an environment of belonging and inclusion. The award offers $10,000 and a package of non-financial support and mentoring to young BIPOC dance artists making the transition from college-level training programs to professional dance careers. The award period runs for six months, during which time the recipients are based in New York City.

Ken Tabachnick, Executive Director of the Trust, said, “This Award represents the Trust’s commitment to sharing the Cunningham legacy with future practitioners as they pursue their artistic vision and path. The Trustees are firmly committed to building a sustainable diverse dance ecology in which the legacy has a place. Alex and Morgan are the perfect initial awardees for this support.”

In addition to the $10,000 grant, each recipient will:

  • be paired with a mentor—offering a bridge to the professional dance community, and a space for periodic discussion and reflection, inquiry and self-evaluation. The mentor will receive an honorarium from the Trust.
  • have unlimited free access to the Trust’s daily Cunningham Technique classes, with the aim of cultivating a consistent physical practice and building a “home base.”
  • be encouraged to broaden their training and exposure by attending classes and workshops at other studios and venues.