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Connecticut College´s David Dorfman receives Martha Hill Mid-Career Award

November 27, 2007

NEW LONDON, Conn. - David Dorfman, the William Meredith Associate Professor of Dance at Connecticut College, was awarded the Mid-Career Award at the 2007 Martha Hill Award Gala in New York City yesterday.

The award, named for educator, artistic director and dance visionary Martha Hill, recognizes those who exhibit Hill´s commitment to dance education and performance.

"Martha Hill did so much for dance and was so influential in dance education," Dorfman said. "I am flattered to be mentioned in the same sentence."

Dorfman, an internationally known dancer and choreographer, received his master´s degree in fine arts from Connecticut College in 1981 and returned to the campus as an associate professor of dance in 2004. His choreography has been produced in New York City at venues ranging from the BAM Next Wave Festival to The Kitchen, The Joyce Theater, Dance Theater Workshop, Danspace Project/ St. Mark´s Church, P.S. 122 and Dancing in the Streets. His company, David Dorfman Dance, is considered one of the most influential American contemporary dance companies for the past two decades and was recently named company-in-residence at the College.

Dorfman also has been the recipient of four fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, three New York Foundation for the Arts fellowships, an American Choreographer´s Award, the first Paul Taylor Fellowship from The Yard and a 1996 New York Dance and Performance Award ("Bessie"). In 2005, he was awarded a Guggenheim fellowship to continue his research and choreography in the topics of power and powerlessness, including activism, dissidence and underground movements.

Bruce Marks, artistic director emeritus of the Boston Ballet, served as the master of ceremonies during last night´s gala. Choreographer Susan Marsh presented Dorfman with his award.

"I am very honored, very humbled by this award," Dorfman said. "But the real award is getting into the studio every day and choreographing and educating young people. That´s why I love this job," Dorfman added, "I can do both."

Among the most selective private liberal arts colleges in the nation, Connecticut College enrolls 1,900 men and women from 41 states, the District of Columbia and 42 countries. The college is known for putting the liberal arts into action through interdisciplinary studies, international programs, funded internships, student-faculty research and service learning. Founded in 1911, the college operates under an 86-year-old honor code. The college is located at 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, about two hours by car from Boston and New York. The 750-acre campus is an arboretum overlooking Long Island Sound. For more information, visit www.connecticutcollege.edu.

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Editor: A color, hi-resolution photos of David Dorfman is available at www.conncoll.edu/news/. Click "Image Gallery" on the left navigation bar.

For more information contact: Amy Sullivan (860) 439-2526; amy.sullivan@conncoll.edu