Dancefest! The Dance Magazine Awards break ground.

Savion Glover bowing down to Jimmy Slyde said it all. The awards event in November was about honoring our heritage, recognizing our history, and giving thanks to our personal dance deities. Judith Jamison, in her presentation to Donald McKayle, invoked the name of Alvin Ailey and also called on Carmen de Lavallade, Dudley Williams, and Mary Hinkson (all in the house) to help her remember the past. Anna Kisselgoff gave Clive Barnes his due, saying, "None of us would be writing today if he had not paved the way by turning the previous dance criticism tradition on its head."

In Prelude, a stunning film made by Fabrizio Ferri, Alessandra Ferri danced gorgeously while Sting played Bach on the guitar. In flesh form, she came from the balcony to accept the silver bowl from Kevin McKenzie, joking that it would be perfect for pasta. John Lithgow described Christopher Wheeldon recklessly showing his dancers how to roll on the floor--and turning himself black and blue.

For the first time since the Dance Magazine Awards started in 1954, performances alternated with the speeches. We were treated to an inventive duet from Wheeldon's Polyphonia, danced by Wendy Whelan and Sebastien Marcovici, and McKayle's stirring Angelitos Negros, performed by Roxane D'Orleans Juste. All who attended were united in our love and respect for an art that crosses generations and genres.