Alexandra Posted April 13, 2001 Share Posted April 13, 2001 It's a pleasure to be able to post this press release, not only because Leigh Witchel has won such a prestigious award, but because this year, a Guggenheim went to a BALLET choreographer. -------------------------------- Dance as Ever, Inc. 36 West 44th Street, 707 New York, NY 10036 Email: dae@panix.com http://members.aol.com/dnceasever For Immediate Release Date: April 13, 2001 Leigh Witchel recipient of 2001 Guggenheim Fellowship New York, New York: Dance as Ever is honored to announce that Dance as Ever's founder and choreographer, Leigh Witchel has been named a 2001 Fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation. The Fellowship in choreography is to support Mr. Witchel's work over the next year. Previous recipients of this award have included Merce Cunningham and Paul Taylor. Mr. Witchel is the first choreographer concentrating in classical ballet to receive this honor in more than a decade. Mr. Witchel began choreographing in 1987 and has made over 50 ballets to date. He is a 1998 recipient along with Dance as Ever, Inc. of the Choo-San Goh Award for Choreography and was a 2001 nominee for a CalArts Alpert Award in the Arts. Dance as Ever, founded in 1993 by Mr. Witchel has produced seven concerts in New York City working with dancers from the finest ballet companies in the country, including Charles Askegard and Peter Boal. For more information on the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation: http://www.gf.org [ 04-13-2001: Message edited by: alexandra ] Link to comment
Natalia Posted April 13, 2001 Share Posted April 13, 2001 Congrats, Leigh! Yes - yes - yes - yes - yes!!!! Link to comment
Victoria Leigh Posted April 14, 2001 Share Posted April 14, 2001 WOW!!! CONGRATULATIONS, LEIGH!!! Link to comment
Pamela Moberg Posted April 14, 2001 Share Posted April 14, 2001 Wonderful! Every time ballet gets a recognition of some kind I rejoice. Congratulations! I'll even do this one in Swedish - "GRATTIS!" for good measure. This might be the first word in Swedish ever on the pages of BalletAlert... Link to comment
Alexandra Posted April 14, 2001 Author Share Posted April 14, 2001 Thanks for the Swedish, Pamela. In Danish, I think it's tilykke Link to comment
Drew Posted April 14, 2001 Share Posted April 14, 2001 Yiddish words probably have appeared on this board before -- but here are some more: Mazel Tov! Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted April 14, 2001 Share Posted April 14, 2001 Thanks. The foundation contacted me about a month ago, but it took time to finalize and confirm the decision, so I've been sweating since then. I believe that anyone working in the arts had best be prepared to go unrecognized for their entire career and to derive satisfaction from the work itself, so any recognition is a pleasant surprise to me. The best part was when my 95 year old Nana congratulated me on winning a Duncan Hines prize. Duncan Hines is a brand of cake mix in America, the kind she's used for probably 60 years, so it was understandable. I thought that was breathtaking. Stupid Guggenheim! I want a Duncan Hines award! Thank you for all the good wishes. They mean a lot to me. [ 04-13-2001: Message edited by: Leigh Witchel ] Link to comment
Yvonne Posted April 14, 2001 Share Posted April 14, 2001 Bravo, Leigh!! I hope some day I'll have the opportunity to see one of your ballets! Link to comment
Terry Posted April 14, 2001 Share Posted April 14, 2001 Wow; that is amazing! CONGRATULATIONS~!! Like Yvonne, I hope to see your works someday. Any plans in the near future? Link to comment
Kevin Ng Posted April 14, 2001 Share Posted April 14, 2001 Leigh, warmest congratulations! I hope you can bring your company on a tour to Asia in the future. Link to comment
Andrei Posted April 14, 2001 Share Posted April 14, 2001 Leigh! I tried to congratulate you in Russian, but it doesn't work here, so, GO FOR IT !!!! Yvonne and Terry you can order the video from Leigh's last performnce, I believe. Link to comment
Amy Reusch Posted April 14, 2001 Share Posted April 14, 2001 Originally posted by Andrei:Yvonne and Terry you can order the video from Leigh's last performnce, I believe. I don't believe... I know you can ;) I hope you can all see his next concert. He certainly deserved the Guggenheim. Link to comment
Marc Haegeman Posted April 14, 2001 Share Posted April 14, 2001 That's great news! Congratulations! Well done, Leigh. Link to comment
salzberg Posted April 14, 2001 Share Posted April 14, 2001 Originally posted by alexandra:not only because Leigh Witchel has won such a prestigious award, but because this year, a Guggenheim went to a BALLET choreographer. . . .And it's especially gratifying that it went to one of ours! . . .And I, too, hope to see more of Leigh's work soon. [ 04-14-2001: Message edited by: salzberg ] Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted April 15, 2001 Share Posted April 15, 2001 Congratulations, Leigh, I'm happy for you, and very proud. Link to comment
leibling Posted April 15, 2001 Share Posted April 15, 2001 Congratulations!!! Maybe I'll order one of those videos... Link to comment
felursus Posted April 15, 2001 Share Posted April 15, 2001 Multas congratulationes tibi ago! (Has there been any Latin on the Board before?) In plain English: many congratulations, Leigh! Link to comment
Steve Keeley Posted April 15, 2001 Share Posted April 15, 2001 In Japanese: Omedeto, Witchel-san! ~Steve Link to comment
atm711 Posted April 16, 2001 Share Posted April 16, 2001 Wonderful! Wonderful! It couldn't happen to a more deserving fellow. Link to comment
Estelle Posted April 17, 2001 Share Posted April 17, 2001 And in French: félicitations, Leigh! Link to comment
Ann Posted April 18, 2001 Share Posted April 18, 2001 Warmest congratulations, Leigh - I'm really thrilled for you, and I love your grandma's reaction! (and if the Duncan Hines people are looking in here they might even consider establishing an annual Duncan Hines award...) Link to comment
Giannina Posted April 23, 2001 Share Posted April 23, 2001 Such wonderful news to come home to. Sincere congratulations, Leigh. Giannina Link to comment
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