Outstanding Individual Performance
An individual performer can be recognized for his or her performance of, or within, an evening length production as a company member or a soloist.

Winner: Nejla Yatkin in "De/Reconstructing Mata Hari" at Dance Place, November 5/6, 2005

Ed Tyler in “Sanctuary” at the Gala Theatre-Tivoli, October 14, 2005

Tzveta Kassabova in “Sanctuary” at the Gala Theatre-Tivoli, October 14, 2005

Helanius J. Wilkins in "Cold Case" at Dance Place, March 17-19, 2006

Daniel Burkholder in “together apart” at Dance Place, April 1/2, 2006

Outstanding Group Performance
A group or company can be recognized for its performance of, or within, an evening length production.

Winner: Daniel Burkholder/The PlayGround in “together/apart” at Dance Place, April 1/2, 2006

Ed Tyler and Dancers in “Sanctuary” at the Gala Theatre-Tivoli, October 14, 2005

Step Afrika! at The Lincoln Theatre, June 4, 2005

Laura Schandelmeier/Stephen Clapp in "The Dragons Project: Power Play" at Dance Place, May 6/7, 2006

BosmaDance at Dance Place, March 4/5, 2006

Outstanding Youth Performance
This award is for an outstanding youth soloist or group performance, for ages 18 and under.

Winner: Joy of Motion Youth Dance Ensemble at The Jack Guidone Theater at Joy of Motion Dance Center, Friendship Heights, May 20/21, 2006

Momentum Dance Theatre’s Jazz Hip Hop Nutcracker at Stuart Hobson Middle School, December 17, 2005

Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe at the Publick Playhouse, April 8, 2006

Maryland Youth Ballet in "Thin Ice" at Dance Bethesda, Roundhouse Theatre, March 4/5, 2006

Tappers with Attitude: 15th Anniversary Concert at Dance Place, December 10/11, 2005

Outstanding New Work
This award goes to a choreographer for his/her creation of an outstanding new work this season. The work can be a part of a showcase or mixed bill.

Winner: "Grandmother Project" by Vincent E. Thomas performed by VTDance at Dance Place, January 7-8, 2006

"Sanctuary" by Ed Tyler at the Gala Theatre-Tivoli, October 14, 2005

"De/Reconstructing Mata Hari" by Nejla Yatkin at Dance Place, November 5/6, 2005

“Stand” by Sylvia Soumah at Dance Place, February 18/19, 2006

"Handle with Care" by Meisha Bosma at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, September 15/16, 2005

Emerging Performer or Group
The Emerging Performer or Group Award is for an artist or group who is gaining recognition for their performance. Groups may be professional or pre-professional, and are eligible for this award during their first five years of performance.

Winner: Culture Shock DC at Dance Bethesda, Roundhouse Theatre, March 4/5, 2006

Transport (Nicholette Routhier and Wendell Cooper)for "Don't Look…" at Dance Place, July 9/10, 2005

VT Dance for "The Grandmother Project" at Dance Place, January 7/8, 2006

DanceSmith at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater, January 14, 2006

Derrick Spears with Washington Reflections Dance Company at the Lincoln Theatre, October 29, 2005

Emerging Choreographer
The Emerging Choreographer Award is for an artist who is gaining recognition for choreographic talent and work in the DC Metro area. The choreographer can be an established dancer but may be recognized in this category only for the first five years of his/her choreographic career.

Winner: Vincent E. Thomas of VTDance for "Grandmother Project" at Dance Place, January 7/8, 2006

Lesole Z. Maine of Lesole's Dance Project for "Rewind, Take it Back" at Dance Place, August 6 /7, 2005

Juli Calderon for "Tribute" at the Jack Guidone Theater at Joy of Motion Dance Center, Friendship Heights, March 18/19, 2006

Derrick Spears with Washington Reflections Dance Company

Jane Jerardi for “Efficiency” at the Gala Theatre-Tivoli, October 22, 2005

Excellence in Costume Design
This award recognizes a costume designer who captures a choreographer's vision in a creative, innovative, and wearable way.

Winner: Laurel Victoria Gray for “Guldasta, Samarkand Ushori, Darya Toshkin” performed by Silk Road Dance Company at the Publick Playhouse, April 8, 2006

Ed Tyler for “Sanctuary” performed by Ed Tyler and Dancers at the Gala Theatre-Tivoli, October 14, 2005

Judy Hansen for "Images From The Embers" performed by Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Company at Lisner Auditorium, March 3, 2006

Jenny Young for "Handle With Care" performed by BosmaDance at Dance Place, March 4/5, 2006

Excellence in Lighting Design
This award recognizes a lighting designer who uses theatrical lighting to illuminate a choreographer's vision.

Winner: Enoch Chan for "Mermaids and Other Tales of Truth" performed by ClancyWorks Dance Company at the American Dance Institute, April 15, 2006

Catherine Eliot for "De/Reconstructing Mata Hari" performed by Nejla Yatkin at Dance Place, November 5/6, 2005

Jessica Marchant for “Grandmother Project” performed by Vincent E. Thomas/VTDance at Dance Place, January 7/8, 2006

Catherine Eliot for “The Dragons Project: Power Play” performed by Laura Schandelmeier and Stephen Clapp at Dance Place, May 6/ 7, 2006

Excellence in Sound Design/Original Composition
This award recognizes a composer who creates outstanding music compositions for dance.

Winner: Sven Abow for "Cold Case" performed by EDGEWORKS Dance Theatre at Dance Place, March 17-19, 2006

Stephen Clapp for “The Dragons Project: Power Play” performed by Laura Schandelmeier and Stephen Clapp at Dance Place, May 6/7, 2006

Audrey Chen for "together/apart (we each go our way)" performed by Daniel Burkholder / The PlayGround at The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, September 1/2, 2005

Jonathan Morris for “De/Reconstructing Mata Hari” performed by Nejla Yatkin at Dance Place, November 5/6, 2005

Aaron Leitko for "Images From The Embers" performed by Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Company at Lisner Auditorium, March 3, 2006

Excellence in Stage Design/Multimedia
This award recognizes a designer or videographer who creates an outstanding scenic environment in which dance is performed.

Winner: Joyce Ellen Weinstein for "Cold Case" performed by EDGEWORKS Dance Theatre at Dance Place, March 17-19, 2006

Ed Tyler for "Sanctuary" performed by Ed Tyler and Dancers at Gala Theatre-Tivoli, October 2005

Nejla Yatkin and Christian Davenport for "De/Reconstructing Mata Hari" performed by Nejla Yatkin at Dance Place, November 5/6, 2005

Linda Lewett for “Thresholds Crossed” performed by Maida Withers/Construction Dance Company at Lisner Auditorium, April 21, 2006

Outstanding Overall Production – Small Venue
The nominees in this category performed in venues with fewer than 400 seats, are chosen for original full evening productions this season, and include all dance genres. They are judged on the many elements involved in creating a dance production including production quality, programming choices, choreography, choice of collaborators, and technical and artistic expression of the dancers.

Winner: "De/Reconstructing Mata Hari" by Nejla Yatkin performed at Dance Place, November 5/6, 2005

"Sanctuary" by Ed Tyler performed at Gala Theatre-Tivoli, October 2005

"Daniel Burkholder / The PlayGround" by Daniel Burkholder at Dance Place, April 1/2, 2006

BosmaDance at Dance Place, March 4/5, 2006

The Grandmother Project” by Vincent Thomas at Dance Place, January 7/8, 2006

Outstanding Overall Production – Large Venue
The nominees in this category performed in venues with more than 400 seats, are chosen for original full evening productions this season, and include all dance genres. They are judged on the many elements involved in creating a dance production including production quality, programming choices, choreography, choice of collaborators, and technical and artistic expression of the dancers.

Winner: "Thresholds Crossed" by The Dance Construction Company at Lisner Auditorium, April 21, 2006

Step Afrika! at The Lincoln Theatre, June 4, 2005

"Images From The Embers" by Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Company at Lisner Auditorium, March 3, 2006

“Don Quixote” by The Suzanne Farrell Ballet at the Kennedy Center, June 22-26, 2005

Washington Reflections Dance Company at The Lincoln Theatre, October 29, 2005

Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education
This award recognizes an individual or organization for outstanding ongoing contributions to the field of dance through educational efforts. These efforts may include academic or non-academic dance training, outreach programs, and/or performances for students and nontraditional audiences.

Winner: Yvonne Edwards

Mary Day

Brooke Kidd

Jones Haywood School of Ballet

Joy of Motion Dance Center

Alan M. Kriegsman Award
This award recognizes a person or organization for his/her ongoing artistic or community service to the DC/MD/VA region. Nominees can be school directors, artists who have made an impact on the field, persons or organizations that have supported the dance community, etc. THIS AWARD IS DECIDED BY STEP 2 IN THE MDCDA PROCESS-ARTIST BALLOT.

Carla Perlo
Carla Perlo founded D.C. Wheel Productions, Inc. in 1978 and Dance Place in 1980 and continues to serve as the organization’s founding director. She has been praised for her unique ability to operate simultaneously as artist and administrator. Carla has taught and performed in the U.S., U.K., Europe, Brazil, Mexico, and Israel. In 1991 Carla formed Carla & Company, a professional dance company dedicated to building new audiences for dance through community performances targeting a wide variety of groups and ages. Carla has served on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, New England Foundation for the Arts and Maryland State Arts Council. She received the Pola Nirenska Memorial Award for her service and dedication to the field of dance in 1996 and was named a "Washingtonian of the Year" in 1997 by Washingtonian Magazine. In 1999, Carla received the George Mason University Cultural Lifetime Achievement Award, and was named WETA's Hometown Hero in 2001. In 2003, she was honored with the Founder’s Award from the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington. From 1994 to 1997, Carla and Dance Place served as the National Coordinator for Dance Africa America. Currently, Carla served on the Board of Directors of the National Performance Network from 2000-2004.