Congratulations, Dennis. Much deserved. Best regards, Ellen >Hi I, was surprised and elated to receive a BESSIE AWARD by the New York >Dance and Theater community. > >A 2000-2001 Special Citation to Dennis Diamond & Video D > >For Sustained Achievement of lens and tape and electronic reconstruction, as >creator, documenter, >improviser and ultimately digital dancer-correspondent of the >history-in-progress of our community. > >For unblinking eyewitness accounts of the evanescent art and detail of dance >as it happens, >a quarter century as the man-with-a camera on the stage and at the monitor >of recorded choreography as well as inseparable collaborator to a numerous >artists from Bruce Nauman, Bill Irwin, and Blue Man Group to Senta Driver, >Elizabeth Streb and the Jose Limon Dance Company. > signed by Daivd R. White and the >Awards Committee > >Here were Dennis' remarks: > >Dennis Diamond - Joyce Theater September 21, 2001 >Speech upon receiving a Special Citation: BESSIE AWARDS 2000-2001 > >WOW.. I am frightened because I am used to looking at the back of audience >heads. > >My friend, Senta Driver said, "You'll Come with me!" (So here I am.) > >My people always begin a festive occasion with "Blessed G-d who has allowed >us to see this season. I have been involved with dance all of my life. > >When I was 3 years old I was watching Fred Astaire on television and asked >my mother if I could do that. My parents, Pearl and Irwin Diamond took me >to tap dance class in Queens. My parents set the standard for my life, >which is "encouragement for doing things I believe in." > >At age 7 I got my first camera, which became glued to my eye. My dance >training continued at the High School of Performing Arts and Harkness >House. > >In 1976 I walked into talk to the young David R, White. I said, "I would >document >14 concerts in the fall season for one hundred dollars." I documented these >but their budget could not afford the $100.00. I figured I had to stay. >I LOVE THE DANCE. > >One story: While I was archiving from the back of the old DTW I struck up a > conversation with David Gordon. David said, "There are a lot of rules in >video." > I said, "I have only one rule - DON"T DROP THE CAMERA!" > >Thank you Bessie Committee for recognizing my contribution. > >Thanks to the New York Public Library and the Performing Arts Division - > Madelyn Nichols, Jan Schmidt and the unseen heroes who help preserve the >material that I produce. > >Let me honor the Video D Staff, (please bring up the house lights) >Please stand: >Tom Kennedy, David Quinn aka Squid, Robin Hoffman, >Theodore Striggles aka Ted, My video maven Michael P Hesse, > Irving Ziffer aka Uncle Icky, Alexander Ziffer Diamond, >and Elizabeth Barrowcliff Geiger aka Queen Honey Geiger. > >I thank every dancer, choreographer, stage crew genius, and those involved >in the world of dance and theater for allowing me to enhance my craft. > >(If you are wondering how I had a speech in my pocket. Every person knows >that when you go to a award ceremony ....you NEVER KNOW) > > >Dennis Diamond >Video D Studios Inc >29 West 21 Street NY NY 10010 >(800-543-2623 212-242-3345) >dennis.videod@worldnet.att.net >videod.com --------------------------------------------- Ellen Bromberg, Assistant Professor Department of Modern Dance University of Utah 330 S. 1500 E. Rm. 110 Salt Lake City, UT 84112 PH: 801/587-9807 FX: 801/581-5442 Dance Office: 801/581-7327 e.bromberg@m.cc.utah.edu
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