ABT Dancer Awarded
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The 2008 Benois de la Danse Prize for best male dancer was shared between American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Marcelo Gomes and Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta. Mr. Gomes’s award was based on his performance in Lar Lubovitch’s “Othello,” as well as his performances in Jorma Elo’s “C. to C. (Close to Chuck),” which ABT presented at City Center in October.
The Benois de la Danse Prize was established in 1992 by the International Dance Association (now the International Dance Union) and Unesco. The annual prize recognizes the most outstanding choreographer, female dancer, male dancer, composer, and designer of the previous year. Nominees and awardees are selected by an international jury including company directors, teachers, and well-known artists. The awards were announced at the Benois de la Danse ceremony and gala held at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
ABT Principal Dancer Gillian Murphy and ABT Master Teaching Associate Kirk Peterson were nominated in the respective categories of most outstanding female dancer and choreographer.
