The A.W.A.R.D. Show! is Back, Haters

Seattle’s first-ever A.W.A.R.D. Show!, hosted earlier this year at On the Boards, remains a controversial topic in the arts community. People liked it. People hated it. People didn’t quite know what to think of it. We know of several artists who boycotted the show in a silent protest of a “dance competition.”

Yet, the show was sold out each of its four nights. It certainly got people talking about the merits of presenting contemporary dance in competition-based format. A.W.A.R.D. Show! winner Amelia Reeber took her $10,000 prize, in part, and developed an old work into a full-length solo piece. this is a forgery is premiering next week (stay tuned for a review).

Subsequently, it looks as though A.W.A.R.D. Show! will have a second season in Seattle. On the Boards and The Joyce are now accepting applications for the 2011 A.W.A.R.D. Show!, with two Seattle-specific additions. Applicants are now allowed to send proposals for new work, as “Innovation and risk are important parts of OtB’s identity and we are excited to open the competition up in this way.” And honorariums will be offered to all the chosen participants. Once again 12 contemporary choreographers will be competing for a $10,000 cash prize, with $1,000 awarded to each of two runner-ups.

Applications will be accepted now through May 11, with the Seattle A.W.A.R.D. Show! taking place January 27-30, 2011 at On the Boards. For more information and to download the Seattle application, go here.