REVERBdance Festival announces awards

Curated by Artistic Director Kate Griffler and Co-Producer Bradley Shelver, the 10th REVERBdance Festival took place November 6-8 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York. The festival showcased a stimulating variety of works by both seasoned and emerging contemporary dance artists, including dance theater choreography, solo performers and dance companies. More than 20 artists were presented across two programs, with dancers/choreographers hailing from around the U.S., South Africa, London and Japan.

The recipients of the REVERBdance Festival awards are: Joseph Toonga and Dickson Mbi of Just Us Dance Theatre (headquartered in East London) for It’s Between Us ($1,000 Award for Best Choreographic Work, based on audience vote); Oscar Roman De Jesus, current member of Parsons Dance (commissioned to create a work for Steps Repertory Ensemble); and Jordan Lang, dancer with MJ (Melissa Jackson) of Hollywood, California (given one month of free Steps’ classes for Outstanding Dancer.)

All three awards were presented in partnership with the Steps Beyond Foundation.

In addition to Toonga and Mbi’s piece, Program A featured choreography by Jake Casey, -esque dance collective, Jeffrey Docimo of Isodoc Dance Group, Reka Echerer of ReCo Dance, Kate Griffler of 121 Dance Project, Mary Grace McNally, Tiffany Rea-Fisher of Elisa Monte Dance, Bradley Shelver of The Steps Repertory Ensemble, Vanessa Van Wormer Dance and Tomoyo Yamada of Escape Artists MWU Dance Collective.

In addition to Omar Roman De Jesus’ work, Program B featured pieces by Jee Eun/Ahn of Jee Ahn and Dancers, Braeden Barnes of Faubourg Theatre, Brynt Beitman, Michael J. Cerwinski of Michael James New York, Wendell Gray, MJ (Melissa Jackson), Joe Monteleone and Shelley White of the Monteleone Dance Collective, Angela Dice Nguyen of The MoveMessenger(s) and Teddy Tedholm.

For more information on the REVERBdance Festival, visit www.REVERBdance.org.

Photo: Omar Roman De Jesus’ work being presented at the 10th REVERBdance Festival. Photo by Jessica Schmitt.