Samantha Speis News

The NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, New York City's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, announced the complete list of the 2017 award recipients tonight at the 33rd annual Bessie Awards ceremony. Awards were presented in the categories of Outstanding Production, Outstanding Revival, Outstanding Performer, Outstanding Music Composition/Sound Design, and Outstanding Visual Design, with additional awards presented for Lifetime Achievement in Dance and Outstanding Service to the Field of Dance. The full list of 2017 Bessie Award recipients follows.

The NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, New York City's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, today announced the nominees for the 2016?17 season at the Bessies press conference. The nominees were selected by the Bessie Awards Selection Committee, an independent committee of 38 dance industry professionals. Bessie Award categories include Outstanding Production, Outstanding Revived Work, Outstanding Performer, Outstanding Music Composition or Sound Design, and Outstanding Visual Design. The list of nominations follows. 

Bringing their signature style of vivid, strong, and intelligent dance to the Eisenhower Theater, Urban Bush Women returns to the Kennedy Center for the first time since 2008 with the evening-length work, Walking with 'Trane for two performances, April 7 and 8, 2017. Created by co-choreographers Jawole Willa Jo Zollar and Samantha Speis and dramaturg Talvin Wilks in collaboration with the company,Walking with 'Trane is inspired by the musical life and spiritual journey of mid-century jazz musician and composer John Coltrane, who stood at the forefront of jazz and bebop innovation in racially charged 1960's America.

The Virginia Arts Festival presents Brooklyn-based dance company Urban Bush Women (UBW) in the world premiere of Hair and Other Stories on Saturday, April 22 at 8 p.m. at the Attucks Theatre in Norfolk, Virginia. Tickets are $20-$35, available online at vafest.org, by phone at 757-282-2822 or at the Virginia Arts Festival box, 440 Bank St., Norfolk (10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday-Friday).

2016 Winter Wonder Dance Festival (December 27 - 30) will offer a chance to dance with amazing visiting guest artists teaching classes, leading repertory/performance groups and performing for 4 FULL days of dance.

Platform 2016: Lost & Found, the eleventh and most ambitious edition to date, will examine the impact of AIDS on generations of artists.

Platform 2016: Lost & Found, the eleventh and most ambitious edition to date, will examine the impact of AIDS on generations of artists.

The FirstWorks Artistic Icons Series continues in 12 days with "Walking with 'Trane," a new live music/dance event created by the electrifying, Brooklyn-based Urban Bush Women dance troupe in tribute to the life of legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane and his seminal jazz suite, "A Love Supreme." "Walking with 'Trane" has its New England premiere on Saturday, February 27, 8 p.m. at The Vets in downtown Providence. Doors will open at 7 p.m. for JumpStart festivities in the venue lobby, featuring performances by The Leland Baker 4tet, Edgar Viloria's Thr3e Live Dance Company and Central Falls High School Africana Arts students. Tickets, which start at $38, are on sale now at 401-421-ARTS (2787) and at first-works.org.

Celebrating 30 years as an unstoppable force in American dance, Urban Bush Women continues to make visceral, politically-charged work that is electric and inspiring.

Celebrating 30 years as an unstoppable force in American dance, Urban Bush Women continues to make visceral, politically-charged work that is electric and inspiring.

A pioneer in the world of contemporary dance, MacArthur 'Genius Grant' recipient Liz Lerman's new theatrical dance piece Healing Wars examines healing in wartime, the nature of damage that continues when battles are over and the question of how individuals and societies absorb the pain and impact of war. The production features a company of performers in multiple roles, including Marjani Forte, George Hirsch, Tamara Hurwitz Pullman, Ted Johnson, Alli Ross, Samantha Speis, Keith A. Thompson, renowned stage and film actor Bill Pullman and a combat veteran to be announced at a later date. The limited engagement, world-premiere production of Healing Wars running through June 29 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Check out photos from the opening night below!

Not quite theatre, not quite dance, and not quite whatever else, 'Healing Wars' is one of those rare artistic offerings that's at the intriguing intersection of various kinds of art.

A pioneer in the world of contemporary dance, MacArthur 'Genius Grant' recipient Liz Lerman's new theatrical dance piece Healing Wars examines healing in wartime, the nature of damage that continues when battles are over and the question of how individuals and societies absorb the pain and impact of war. The production features a company of performers in multiple roles, including Marjani Forte, George Hirsch, Tamara Hurwitz Pullman, Ted Johnson, Alli Ross, Samantha Speis, Keith A. Thompson, renowned stage and film actor Bill Pullman and a combat veteran to be announced at a later date. The limited engagement, world-premiere production of Healing Wars running through June 29 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Check out a first look at highlights below!

A pioneer in the world of contemporary dance, MacArthur 'Genius Grant' recipient Liz Lerman's new theatrical dance piece Healing Wars examines healing in wartime, the nature of damage that continues when battles are over and the question of how individuals and societies absorb the pain and impact of war. The production features a company of performers in multiple roles, including Marjani Forte, George Hirsch, Tamara Hurwitz Pullman, Ted Johnson, Alli Ross, Samantha Speis, Keith A. Thompson, renowned stage and film actor Bill Pullman and a combat veteran to be announced at a later date. The limited engagement, world-premiere production of Healing Wars running through June 29 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Check out a first look at opening night below!

A pioneer in the world of contemporary dance, MacArthur 'Genius Grant' recipient Liz Lerman's new theatrical dance piece Healing Wars examines healing in wartime, the nature of damage that continues when battles are over and the question of how individuals and societies absorb the pain and impact of war. The production features a company of performers in multiple roles, including Marjani Forte, George Hirsch, Tamara Hurwitz Pullman, Ted Johnson, Alli Ross, Samantha Speis, Keith A. Thompson, renowned stage and film actor Bill Pullman and a combat veteran to be announced at a later date. The limited engagement, world-premiere production of Healing Wars running through June 29 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater.

United States Navy veteran and Washington, D.C. native Paul Hurley joins the company of the new theatrical dance piece Healing Wars, a world-premiere production from choreographer Liz Lerman that explores the aftermath of war.

A pioneer in the world of contemporary dance, MacArthur "Genius Grant" recipient Liz Lerman's new theatrical dance piece Healing Wars examines healing in wartime, the nature of damage that continues when battles are over and the question of how individuals and societies absorb the pain and impact of war. The production features a company of performers in multiple roles, including Marjani Forte, George Hirsch, Tamara Hurwitz Pullman, Ted Johnson, Alli Ross, Samantha Speis, Keith A. Thompson, renowned stage and film actor Bill Pullman and a combat veteran to be announced at a later date. The limited engagement, world-premiere production of Healing Wars runs June 6 - June 29 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater.