Barbara Ensley Award

The Barbara Ensley Award provides financial and artistic support for BIPOC dance artists making the transition from school training programs to professional dance careers. The award aims to expand opportunities for young BIPOC dancers to engage with and benefit from the legacy of Merce Cunningham, and to explore and participate in the broader New York City dance community. The award is named in honor of Barbara Ensley (1936-2021), a longtime faculty member of the Merce Cunningham Studio and the only Black woman to teach at the studio. 

The 2025 recipients are Leah Abieyuwa Esemuede and Stephen Haley.

Read their bios 

I feel incredibly honored and grateful to have been selected as a recipient of the Barbara Ensley Award! Thank you to this award's selection committee and my support system of friends, family, and mentors for making this possible!  —Leah

To the Trustees, staff, teachers, and Trust, I am extremely grateful, honored, and excited for this award. Thank you so much and I can't wait to get started! —Stephen

In the Studio

Morgan Amirah Burns rehearsing Meg Harper’s solo from Travelogue (1977).  Morgan learned this solo as part of her 2022 Barbara Ensley Award. 

Photo by Andrea Weber. Jacquelin Harris & Chalvar Monteiro, dancers with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, rehearsing Suite for Two (1958).

Photo by Ashley Chen. Cheryl Therrien rehearsing Solo (1975) with Boris Charrion.

Upcoming Events

The Dance Historian Is in: Nancy Dalva on 

Gus Solomons jr

Wednesday, January 22, 2025 (1:00-3:00)

NYPL Bruno Walter Auditorium

Click for more information

Gus Solomons, Jr. Photo by Guy and Elizabeth, 1967. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.

ScreenDance Miami Festival 2025 The Event at REDCAT January 23, 2025 (7:30) The Light Box Studio at Miami Theater Center Click here for more information Beach Birds: A New Arrangement January 24, 2025 (7:30) New World Center’s Projection Wall at Soundscape Park Click here for more information

John Scott Dance and Mel Mercier: Begin Anywhere New work by Scott & Mercier; Four solos by Merce Cunningham February 12-16, 2025 Irish Arts Center, NYC Click here for more information

Steve Paxton – a video amble Organized and hosted by Lisa Nelson and Cathy Weis February 14, 2025 (6:30) Danspace Project, NYC Click here for more information

Photo of Lisa Nelson and Steve Paxton by Gil Grossi.

Upcoming Workshops

Merce Cunningham Dance Company in Roaratorio. Photo by Julieta Cervantes.

Join us for this two-day Roaratorio workshop led by Patricia Lent. Roaratorio is a lively, complex dance with echoes of traditional Irish dancing. Choreographic material includes jigs, reels, duets, space games, and other elements. Participants should be prepared for jumping and fast footwork. The dance premiered in Roubaix, France, in 1983.

The workshop will begin with an hour-long warm-up. You may participate on either day for $40 or come on both days for $70.

Feb 15th and 16th 

10:30AM-2:30PM

at the Joyce Studios East 287 East 10th St.

Click here to register or email jgoggans@mercecunningham.org

Remembering Carolyn Brown (1927-2025)

Carolyn Brown and Albert Reid in Rainforest. Photo by Oscar Bailey, 1968.

Albert Reid (MCDC 1964-1968):  It was a pleasure and a privilege to know, dance with, and occasionally partner, such a skilled, experienced, intelligent and beautiful dancer as Carolyn Brown.  Someone once said to me, “a lot of people got cheated when God made Carolyn Brown.”  David Gordon called her a “Prima Moderina.”

A memory comes back to me of learning Merce's Rune, when Carolyn had to thrust her flex-footed leg back on a diagonal, blinded to us other dancers, and I had to be quickly prepared to jump up and curve my torso forward over her leg. I’m thinking of that as her final goodbye.

From the Archives: 80 Years Ago

Historic archival card (front & back) handwritten by MCDC Archivist, David Vaughan.

On January 9, 1945, John Cage and Merce Cunningham presented a joint concert of music and dance at the Hunter Playhouse in New York City. Merce performed ten solos, including the premiere of both Mysterious Adventure and Experiences.  Mysterious Adventure, he recalled, “was very quick, and had a lot of hopping about, like a mosquito.”

In-Person Classes

Cunningham Technique^® classes take place daily in New York City as follows:

Monday & Wednesday & Friday

at the Mark Morris Dance Center

3 Lafayette Avenue

10:15-11:45am

Click here to register

Check our website for more information and updates

Tuesday (10:00am-12:00pm) & Saturday (10:45am-12:15pm)

Open classes with Lindsey Jones

at 100 Grand Dance

100 Grand Street

10:00am-12:00pm

Click here to register

Saturday

Beginner classes with Janet Charleston

at the Mark Morris Dance Center

3 Lafayette Avenue

1:00-2:30pm

Click here to register

Open Classes are also taking place elsewhere in the U.S. and across the globe!

For information, click here

For more information, contact: jgoggans@mercecunningham.org