Nine artists honored with SAGE Awards for Dance

The Minnesota SAGE Awards for Dance honored nine artists Tuesday night at the Cowles Center in Minneapolis.

This is the 10th year of the program, which is named for the late dance enthusiast Sage Cowles and calls out excellence in Twin Cities dance.

Two awards were given for Outstanding Dance Performance: Karen Sherman for "One With Others," and Maia Maiden for "Rooted: Hip Hop Choreographers' Evening."

Jesse Neumann-Peterson and Duncan Schultz were honored as Outstanding Dance Performers. Neumann-Peterson was recognized for performing in work by three choreographers: Sharon Picasso, Vanessa Voskuil and Christine Maginnis/Christopher Watson. Duncan earned his award for TU Dance company's 10th anniversary season.

Black Label Movement, headed by artistic director Carl Flink, won the SAGE for Outstanding Dance Ensemble for the performance of "Wreck." This was a 2008 dance revived this past July.

Two awards were given for Outstanding Design: Rosy Simas' film and set for "We Wait in the Darkness," and Mike Grogan's lighting for "SenZalma" by Contempo Physical Dance.

Judith Howard, chair of the department of theater and dance at Carleton College, was honored as Outstanding Dance Educator. Howard had been nominated several times in the category and won a previous SAGE award for outstanding performance. She also has taught at Macalester College and the University of Minnesota.

Young Dance, a Minneapolis-based company, received a special citation at the ceremony. The troupe works with dancers ages 7 to 18.

SAGE winners are selected by peer panelists for work presented in the past year.

Graydon Royce • 612-673-7299