The Dance Program recently presented five undergraduates with awards celebrating ongoing achievements in the discipline.
“Congratulations to all the awardees. Three of our Dance majors received awards: Joey Rauch for the Julia Wray Award; Alyssa Shi for the Clay Taliaferro Award; and Nicole Schwartz for the Dance Writing Award.
In addition, I would like to acknowledge two students who have been actively involved with the Dance program: Sierra Putney, also for the Dance Writing Award; and Tia Smith for the Dance Project Award.
They have excelled in their academic and artistic pursuits, and we are excited to acknowledge their work. The awards represent dance writing, creative excellence, leadership and collegiality. On behalf of all our dance faculty, I wish them the very best in their future endeavors.”
— Andrea E. Woods Valdés, Chair of the Dance Program
Clay Taliaferro Dance Award: Alyssa Shi
Recognizing the artistic and technical growth of a faculty-nominated sophomore or junior who shows the potential to become a professional dancer, teacher, or choreographer. Created in 2006, the award is named in honor of Clay Taliaferro, Professor Emeritus of Dance at Duke University.
Dance Project Award: Tia Smith
A competitive award presented annually to help defray expenses for dance studies, creative projects or research.
Dance Writing Award: Sierra Putney and Nicole Schwartz
The annual competitive award is presented to an undergraduate who has written a paper demonstrating excellence in dance writing and has proven his or her ability to translate the moving text to the written word.
Julia Wray Memorial Dance Award: Joey Rauch
Faculty-nominated award celebrates a senior, or seniors, who has shown outstanding leadership in the Dance Program. It was established to celebrate the memory of Julia Wray, who was a tireless leader and passionate protagonist for dance at Duke and throughout North Carolina.
