Each year, the Princess Grace Foundation acknowledges emerging talent in dance, theater and film by awarding scholarships, apprenticeships and fellowships. The Foundation was established in 1982 by Prince Rainier III of Monaco as a tribute to his wife, the late Princess Grace Kelly, who strived to assist emerging artists in pursuing their goals. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over $13 million to almost 800 artists.
The 2016 Princess Grace Award winners were announced in late July, and Dance Informa had a chance to speak with some of the talented recipients on their prestigious recognition.
Penny Saunders, Whim W’him, Choreography Fellowship
How did you feel when you heard about your Princess Grace Award win?
“Honestly, I was a little shocked when I first heard the news. I really wasn’t expecting to win. I feel so honored and excited to be a part of the Princess Grace family.
Penny Saunders. Photo by Tom Madday.
What does it mean to you to be a Princess Grace Award recipient?
“To be recognized by the Princess Grace Foundation for my work feels significant. I feel like I have been invited into an arts family that will offer me extended support and encouragement throughout my artistic career, and I am so honored that they have considered me worthy.”
What’s next for you? What are your plans for your Choreography Fellowship?
“Currently, I am making my third piece for The Grand Rapids Ballet, which premieres in March. In January, I will make my second work on Whim W’Him in Seattle, and in June, I will collaborate again with SFDanceworks in San Francisco. In the meantime, I will continue my role as a full-time dancer with Hubbard Street, as well as being a full time mom to my beautiful three-year-old boy, Elias.”
Paige Fraser, Visceral Dance Chicago, Dance Fellowship
How did you feel when you heard about your Princess Grace Award win?
“I was at the bus stop when I received a call saying I was a recipient of a Princess Grace Dance Fellowship. It was a dream of mine for years. I cried the whole day. It still feels surreal!”
What does it mean to you to be a Princess Grace Award recipient?
“To be a recipient of a Princess Grace Award is a huge honor. I am grateful to be a part of such an incredible organization that acknowledges emerging artists nationwide. With this platform, I hope to be a source of inspiration for other dancers who may have scoliosis and show them that anything is possible with perseverance and hard work. Dance is my healing.”
Paige Fraser. Photo by Frank Yan.
What’s next for you?
“I just began my fourth season with Visceral Dance Chicago. Time flies! We have some new dancers in the company, and we are currently in the process of learning new rep for our fall and spring season at the Harris Theatre. I’m very excited to meet the other talented artists at the Princess Grace Gala in October. As for projects, I am looking forward to sharing my upcoming segment with ESPN Women: Latin America coming out in August. Just going day by day and continuing to do the work. I am very excited to see what the future has in store for me.”
Jeffery Duffy, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Dance Fellowship
How did you feel when you heard about your Princess Grace Award win?
“I was overwhelmed and grateful. Initially, when I had been nominated by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, it took a couple of days for it to register that it had actually happened. When I received the call from the Princess Grace Foundation, I had been reflecting on the recent police shootings and felt hopeless looking out at the world. I was also hours from leaving from the airport on our last tour of the season. Needless to say, I was a bit occupied. My roommate was home, and I think I scared him into thinking that something terrible had happened due to my sobbing upon receiving the call. It was a timely experience on the spectrum of pain and complete joy.”
What does it mean to you to be a Princess Grace Award recipient?
“I have a hard time thinking about the Award in terms of myself because I know the people who have helped me along the way, and the people that it will inspire. With multiple atrocities happening daily inflicting all people, but especially African Americans, it’s encouraging at a time when you’re hoping and praying that you won’t be the next slain face on a headline. It means that hard work pays off, but it never ends; it means that art has a place in the DNA of our society that is much more integral to its structure than city budgets will allow. It also shows the magnitude at which people and organizations, like the Princess Grace Foundation, are making to ensure that creativity is given the proper environment it needs to flourish.”
Marc Crousillat, Trisha Brown Dance Company, Dance Fellowship
How did you feel when you heard about your Princess Grace Award win?
“It was a total shock! I felt incredibly grateful to be recognized for my work and proud to be amongst a roster of such accomplished artists. It immediately reminded me of all my heroes (some also previous Princess Grace Award winners) and how their influences have profoundly affected me. It was a surreal moment to be in.”
Marc Crousillat. Photo by Lee Gumbs.
What does it mean to you to be a Princess Grace Award recipient?
“It means that this is just the beginning. It is a motivational sign to keep continuing with my research, expanding my curiosities and finding innovative ways to explore dance. The opportunity to be listed within a group of such highly skilled performers and filmmakers is very important to me. It propels a whole new set of ideas into motion, and being a recipient means that this new support network of artists has the ability to alter the ways I see and experience performance. This is very exciting.”
Tyson Clark, Boston Ballet, Dance Scholarship
How did you feel when you heard about your Princess Grace Award win?
“I was so excited I started jumping. I was filled with so much joy.”
What does it mean to you to be a Princess Grace Award recipient?
“It’s such a big honor to be a Princess Grace recipient. I’ve heard so many famous principal dancers who have received this award. I aspire to be one of them one day.”
What’s your plan for your dance scholarship?
“My plan is to continue my training at Boston Ballet in hopes to one day be a company member.”
Tamisha Guy, Abraham.In.Motion, Dance Fellowship
Tamisha Guy. Photo by Jerry and Lois Photography.
How did you feel when you heard about your Princess Grace Award win?
“It is safe to say that I was speechless. I received the phone call while the company was heading to catch a connecting flight back to New York. The news definitely stopped me in my tracks. I still cannot believe it! I felt overwhelmed but in the best way and grateful for every opportunity I have had to share my craft, as well as the teachers, family and friends who have helped me along the way.”
What does it mean to you to be a Princess Grace Award recipient?
“Being a Princess Grace Award recipient is a dream come true, and I feel so blessed to have received such an honor. I will continue to share my craft and to work even harder to contribute to an art form that continues to give me so much.”
Riley O’Flynn, The Juilliard School, Dance Scholarship
How did you feel when you heard about your Princess Grace Award win?
“I got the call on my way home to San Francisco, so I was able to celebrate with my family just a few hours later, which was simply the best. It has taken me some time to process that this was happening for me, as I have seen several of my peers receive this honor during my time at Juilliard. This experience has made me reflect on how thankful I am for the guidance and support of the entire Juilliard community.”
Riley O’Flynn. Photo by Rosalie O’Connor.
What’s next for you? What are your plans for this dance scholarship?
“I will continue on to my senior year at Juilliard in September. I truly can’t believe I am saying that… I feel as though I just started school! This semester, my graduating class will be involved in a new creation with choreographer Matthew Neenan of BalletX for our annual New Dances program. However, this October, I will be performing with Loni Landon (2013 Princess Grace Choreography Fellowship awardee) at The Joyce Theater as part of the NY Quadrille.”
All winners will be recognized at the Princess Grace Awards Gala on October 24 in New York City. For the full list of winners and more information on the Foundation, click here.
By Laura Di Orio of Dance Informa.
Photo (top): Hubbard Street dancer Jeffery Duffy in ‘N.N.N.N.’ by William Forsythe. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.
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