Sage Awards find a fitting home at Cowles Center

The 7th annual Minnesota SAGE Awards for Dance made a new home for itself last night at the Cowles Center for Dance and Performing Arts. And really, how could it be anywhere else?

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Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts

Both the awards and the center were named after Sage Cowles, a long time supporter of the local dance scene, and a dancer in her own right. Along with her husband, John Cowles, Sage helped found the Minnesota Independent Choreographers' Alliance, helped fund the Barbara Barker Center for Dance at the University of Minnesota, and established the Cowles Land Grant Chair, which underwrites residencies by dancers, choreographers, critics, and other professionals in the field.

This year's SAGE awards were as follows:

Outstanding Performance:

• Feet Don't Fail Me Now! - Rhythmic Circus (Nick Bowman, Ricci Milan, Kaleena Miller)

• The Thank you Bar - Emily Johnson/Catalyst + BLACKFISH

• Who Made These Videotapes? - Laurie Van Wieren

Outstanding Performer:

• Alanna Morris - TU Dance spring concert and Dreams: A Solo• Greg Waletski - Like an Octopus and Anatomy of a Viciously Sweet

Outstanding Ensemble:

• Dancers of Feet Don't Fail Me Now by Rhythmic Circus

Outstanding Design (two honorees):

• Costumes for Journey - Sonya Berlovitz

• Video, lighting and music for Heaven - Robert Hammel & Steve Campbell (video), Marcus Dilliard (lighting), Chan Poling and Natalie Nowytski/Peter O'Gorman/Victor Zupanc/Joe Chvala (score and music)

Outstanding Dance Educator:

• Toni Pierce-Sands

Special Citation:

• Linda Shapiro, long-time dance writer

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