Texas Legacy Awards with Dance Council
In November 2005, Dance Council hosted the annual Legacy Awards. Mary Lois Hudson Sweatt was honored with Mary Bywaters Award for Lifetime Contribution to Dance. Willy Shives from The Joffrey Ballet received Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence, and Bill James was recognized with the Mary Warner Award for Outstanding Service to the Dance Community.
Family, friends, colleagues and volunteers gathered to recognize Mary Lois Sweatt, a Dallas native. She holds a BA and MA from Mills College, Oakland, California, and served on the faculty at The Hockaday School and Ursuline Academy. She was Resource Specialist and Lecturer for Black Liturgical Dance at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. The Mary Lois School of Dance was founded in 1971and alumni have used the dance technique and overall discipline they learned to become professional dancers, cheerleaders, models, actors, educators and business professionals.
Cameron Basden and Adam Sklute, Associate Artistic Directors of The Joffrey Ballet, introduced winner Willy Shives and focused on Willy's contribution to The Joffrey Ballet and the city of Chicago since he joined the company in 1999. Willy, a native of Edinburg, Texas, has danced professionally with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Tulsa Ballet and Ballet Austin. He can also be seen in the Robert Altman film, "The Company." Growing up in the Rio Grande Valley, he began mopping studio floors and washing windows for a small dance studio in exchange for lessons. His mentor in Dallas was the late Nikita Talin.
Bill James, volunteer extraordinaire, has been Dance Council's "man of the hour" since 1981. He has created layouts, marketing and advertising, has taken tickets at events, driven a truck and solved computer problems with a smile on his face. His dedication is testimony to Dance Council's commitment to excellence as it develops its mission "to support and promote dance."
Master of Ceremonies, Michael Serrecchia, who is Director of Musical Theatre at KD Studio, introduced presenters Loris Anthony Beckles, Jerry Bywaters Cochran, Gayle Ziaks Halperin, Natalie Skelton and Mary Warner. Solomon Espie, the first male president of the Board of Directors, welcomed the guests.
Some of Dance Council's Dedicated to the Future Scholarship recipients danced. Ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance techniques were shared with the audience. Performing with panache and verve were Lauren McBride, Ebony Cunningham, Lauran Spencer, Charles Martin, Brittanie Brown, Steven Loch, Roxanne Nimmons, Susan Nudo, Domingo Estrada Jr. and Stephanie Williams.
After the awards Willy Shives contributed The Finale, a contemporary ballet solo, "The Impossible Dream." Dedicated to his father-in-law, Aaron Pena, this impelling piece stirred feelings of gratitude and tenderness.
Karen Cooper was stage manager and Jeannine Cumming offered Technical Support; Nickie Carlile with Bailey Carlile coordinated the Silent Auction. The Planning Committee also included Patty Sayers, Eileen McKee, Buster Cooper, Les Johnson and Louanne Weeks, Interim Executive Director.
The Office of Cultural Affairs of the City of Dallas, Texas Commission on the Arts with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts were sponsors along with American Airlines, Sheraton Suites Market Center, Minute Man Press with Mike Bamback.
Earlier in the day Willy and Evie Pena-Shives offered Ballet Master Classes, which were held at Ballet Academy of Texas in Coppell. Participants remarked over and over how inspiring and upbeat the classes were.
Dance Council is located at 3630
Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75219. Phone 214-219-2290. www.thedancecouncil.org or email director@thedancecouncil.org.