The Bessies are thrilled to be recognizing Charmaine Warren as the 2021 Bessies Angel Honoree. From her extraordinary career as a brilliant dancer and performer, to supporting The Bessies in the early days through her enthusiastic presence on the Committee, to founding Black Dance Stories in response to the pandemic lockdown, to her masterful producing of DanceAfrica, as well as co-founding Dance on the Lawn, teaching, and mentoring – Charmaine’s vision and advocacy in dance is exemplary and revolutionary. Join us as we raise a glass to Charmaine and the many communities she brings together. TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE!
Toast this year’s Angel Honoree and enjoy remarks from special guests Dianne McIntyre, David Rousseve, Eva Yaa Asantewaa, Brad Learmonth, Mikki Shepard, Marjani Forte-Saunders, and more!
Angel Party Host Committee: Cora Cahan* , Judy Hussie-Taylor* , Jeanne Linnes*, Stanford Makishi* , Virginia Millhiser, Nicky Paraiso*, Carla Peterson* , Craig Peterson*, Linda Shelton, Gus Solomons jr *, Paz Tanjuaquio*, Laurie Uprichard*, Beth Wilensky.
*Signifies Bessies Steering Committee Member
Charmaine Warren (performer, historian, consultant, curator and dance writer) is the founder/artistic director for “Dance on the Lawn: Montclair’s Dance Festival,” and curator of dance at The Wassaic Project. She has curated for E-Moves and danced with david roussève/REALITY. She also recently began the online series “Black Dance Stories“. Charmaine is on faculty at Empire State Colleges, and former faculty at Hunter College, The Ailey School and The Ailey/Fordham University dance major program, Sarah Lawrence College, The Joffrey Ballet School’s Jazz and Contemporary Trainee Program and Kean University. Published in Dance Magazine, Amsterdam News, and panelists for Robert Battle’s New Directions Choreography Lab. Charmaine holds a Ph.D. in History/Howard University, a Master’s in Dance Research/City College, and Bachelor Degrees (Dance/English)/Montclair State College. She is a 2017 Bessie Award Recipient for “Outstanding Performance” as a member of Skeleton Architecture Collective.
Contribution Levels
Artist level- donation based
Includes access to the Angel Party and Bessies Ceremony, a digital copy of the program, and signature “Charmaine” cocktail and mocktail recipes.
Angel – $125
Includes access to the Angel Party and Bessies Ceremony , one printed copy of the program, and signature “Charmaine” cocktail and mocktail recipes.
Host – $300
Includes access to the Angel Party and Bessies Ceremony, a printed copy of the program with your name recognized in gratitude, and signature “Charmaine” cocktail and mocktail recipes. Contributions must be made by September 24, 2021 for the name to be included in our printed program.
Sponsor – $1,000+
Includes access to the Angel Party and Bessies Ceremony, a printed copy of the program with your name recognized in gratitude, signature “Charmaine” cocktail and mocktail recipes, and your choice of sparkling cider or sparkling wine personally delivered by our Angel Party Producer. Contributions must be made by September 24, 2021 for the name to be included in our printed program.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our Angel Party Producer Regine Pieters at regine.bessies@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you on October 11th!
A NOTE TO OUR GUESTS: We will have ASL and CART, in addition to Audio Description of dance videos, for the event in an accessibility-specific Zoom room. Everyone who RSVPs will receive a link to this Zoom room, in addition to the separate live stream. For further accessibility requests and information, please contact Dani Cole, Associate Manager at dani.bessiesassist@gmail.com or 804-396-2876.