Dance Awards Ceremony, Complete With Baryshnikov, to Be Broadcast From San Diego

Dance legend Mikhail Baryshnikov will arrive in San Diego in January to participate in the videotaping of a television tribute to the world of dance.

The program, called “America’s Dance Awards,” will be taped as part of the opening gala at the San Diego Convention Center on Jan. 19, and is a production of the National Academy of Dance. The academy is a newly formed group, based in Palm Desert and organized specifically to produce the variety special, which will air on ABC this spring.

The announcement was made Monday at a press conference at the convention center by developer Ernest Hahn, one of the event’s honorary co-chairs, and Greg Willenborg, the executive producer of the broadcast.

Willenborg announced the awards, called Gypsys, that will be presented, including the presentation of “Dance Hall of Fame” awards to Baryshnikov, Martha Graham and Gene Kelly by former First Lady Betty Ford, who is a former Martha Graham dancer and a member of the academy’s honorary committee. Plans call for Sammy Davis Jr. to present the “Dancer of the Decade” award to Michael Jackson and for Paula Abdul to receive the “Choreographer of the Year” award.

Honors will also be presented in seven categories: best dance in a music video, best modern dance company, best dance in a television series, best dance in a television special, best dance in a movie, best dance in a Broadway show and best classical dance company.

Willenborg, a veteran of several television specials, including tributes to Bob Hope and Elizabeth Taylor, said the awards will be given only if the honorees agree to attend.

“That’s a requirement for a first-year awards program on television,” said Willenborg, adding that artistic achievement will be the overriding criterion for each award. He said Davis had confirmed his attendance but Jackson had not.

Willenborg said there will be no host for the broadcast special, which will instead feature a number of well-known presenters in what he hopes will be an annual event.

“Los Angeles represents the commercial dance world and New York represents the classical dance world, so we wanted to hold this event on neutral ground,” said Willenborg, explaining how San Diego came to be host to the awards.

The nominees and the honorees were determined by members of the academy’s honorary committee, which includes Ann-Margret, Cyd Charisse, Ruby Keeler, Shirley MacLaine, Madonna, Ann Miller, Rita Moreno, Donald O’Connor and Ginger Rogers.

Proceeds from the gala, with tickets priced from $35 to $5,000, will benefit five local arts organizations: the Gaslamp Quarter Theatre Co., Sushi Gallery, the Bowery Theatre, San Diego Repertory Theatre and the San Diego Foundation for the Performing Arts. Also, a scholarship fund will be established to benefit high school students who are pursuing careers in the performing arts and are proficient in dance.

Kit Goldman, managing producer of the Gaslamp Theatre and producer of the gala event, said 5,000 people and net proceeds of about $500,000 are expected. As producers of the event, the Gaslamp will receive half the proceeds, and the other groups sharing the balance.

The nominees in each category are:

Best dance in a music video: Paula Abdul (“Cold Hearted”); Michael Jackson (“Smooth Criminal”); Janet Jackson (“Rhythm Nation 1814”); Bobby Brown (“Every Little Step”); Prince (“Batdance”).

Best modern dance company: Paul Taylor Dance Company; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Merce Cunningham Dance Company; Martha Graham Dance Company.

Best dance in a television series: “Tracy Ullman Show”; “Smothers Brothers”; “Soul Train”; “Kids, Incorporated”; “Dance in America.”

Best dance in a television special: “Debbie Allen Special”; “Disney MGM Studio Opening Special”; “Soul Train Awards”; “Miss America Show”; “Miss Universe Show.”

Best dance in a movie: “Tap”; “Shag”; “Salsa”; “Dirty Dancing.”

Best dance in a Broadway show: “Jerome Robbins Broadway”; “Black and Blue”; “Grand Hotel”; “Anything Goes.”

Best classical dance company: Joffrey Ballet Company; American Ballet Theatre; San Francisco Ballet; New York City Ballet; Dance Theatre of Harlem