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CityDance’s Ignacio Wins D.C. Mayor’s Arts Award

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WASHINGTON–Ballet dancer Jason Garcia Ignacio of the Citydance Ensemble, based

here in D.C., won as the “Outstanding Emerging Artist” in the 24th Annual Mayor’s Arts
Awards, held on March 23 at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall in this capital. The
CityDance Ensemble also won for “Excellence in an Artistic Discipline.”

In an email interview two days after winning the award, Jason said: “I never thought
that I’d have such a great impact in our community. It was a very humbling experience
to be recognized in what you do.”

“I owe this to the people who believe in me, especially the people at CityDance
Ensemble,” he added. “They have been nurturing me as an artist, bringing the best out
of me.” He said he had “tons of people” to thank, and mentioned Artistic Director Paul
Gordon Emerson, Rehearsal Director Christopher K. Morgan and the CityDance staff.

“When I saw the people I was up against, I thought I did not stand a chance,” he
recalled. “My knees were shaking when I heard my name called. All I could think was,
‘This is too good to be true.’” The other finalists were talented artists Michael Janis,
Jakari Sherman, Jeremy Skidmore and Gwydion Suilebhan.

The D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities presented the Mayor’s Arts Awards,
with both Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and First Lady Michelle Fenty attending the ceremony.

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Asian Fortune - Asian Pacific American Community news in t... http://www.asianfortunenews.com/site/article_0409.php?article...

Award-winning journalist Cynné Simpson, weekend evening anchor for ABC 7/WJLA-TV,
emceed the event.

Since 1985, the D.C. Commission has supported community development through the
arts by promoting artistic excellence. Legends such as Leonard Slatkin, Roberta Flack,
Shirley Horn and Peggy Cooper Cafritz are past recipients.

Ignacio moved here in November 2007 from the Philippines. The Washingtonian
Magazine recently named him one of the Top 20 Showstopper Artists. Last February 5,
he got a call from the Local Dance Commissioning Project (LDCP), awarding him a grant
to premiere “The Mountain” at the Millennium Stage of the Kennedy Center. The theme
of “The Mountain” is global warming, which he choreographed.

“The Mountain” had another showing late last month at Montgomery College in
Silverspring as part of CityDance “Carbon.” “The Mountain” will have its world premiere
on September 10-11 at the Kennedy Center.

Highest Honor

The Mayor’s Arts Awards is the highest honor conferred by the District of Columbia in
recognition of artistic excellence and service among artists, arts organizations, and arts
patrons in the city.

“Washington’s arts community has made an indelible impact in its contribution to the
world-class city we call home,” said Gloria Nauden, Executive Director of the DC
Commission on the Arts and Humanities. “The Mayor’s Arts Awards represents our
appreciation for the core of our contribution to the rich cultural vitality of our city.”

The other winners: Excellence in Service to the Arts, Judith Korey, Andy Anas Shallal;
Innovation in the Arts, Arts in Foggy Bottom; Outstanding Contribution to Arts
Education, Joy of Motion Dance Center; Mayor's Award for Visionary Leadership in the
Arts, Joy Zinoman, Septime Webre; Mayor's Award for Art Teaching, Samuel L. Bonds,
Duke Ellington School of the Arts; Performing Arts, Haewon Moon, PhD, Duke Ellington
School of the Arts; Performing Arts, Carole Whelan; Oyster - Adams Bilingual
Elementary School; Visual Arts: M. Kamel Igoudjil; School Without Walls, Language Arts.

The first Mayor’s Award for Visionary Leadership in the Arts was presented to Septime
Webre, Artistic Director, The Washington Ballet, and Joy Zinoman, Founding Artistic
Director, Studio Theatre.

The event’s performances featured local talent, including the Washington Ballet, Coral
Cantigas, D.C.’s own Mambo Sauce, and a special jazz piano rendition by Dr. Billy Taylor
and Marcus Johnson. The award presenters included Taylor, Marcus Johnson, president,
Three Keys Music; Mats Widbom Cultural Counselor, embassy of Sweden; Dolores
Kendrick, D.C. Poet Laureate; Columbia; Janice Hill, Executive Director, Lincoln Theater;
Victor Reinoso, Deputy Mayor for Education; and Councilmember At Large Kwame R.
Brown.

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