CRAIG BAILEY
From left: Duggan Hill, Debra Cash, Tony Williams, and Joyce Kulhawik at the 2019 Boston Dance Alliance Gala.

MARCH 29, 2019

Dance lovers turned out to honor choreographer Tony Williams and educator Duggan Hill at the annual Boston Dance Alliance Gala, held this week at the Calderwood Pavilion in the South End. Williams, the choreographer behind “Urban Nutcracker,” was the first African-American male principal dancer in Boston Ballet. Hill, also a choreographer, founded Boston City Lights Performing Arts School.

“Tony and Duggan represent the best of the local dance community,” Debra Cash, executive director of the Alliance, said in a statement. “Their enduring commitments to young people, to opening doors to participation, and to modeling standards of excellence have given generations of Boston dancers the opportunities to shine.”

The bash drew many boldface names from the arts community, including Indira Goodwine, director of Dance for New England Foundation for the Arts; Peter DiMuroof the Dance Complex; arts journalist Joyce Kulhawik; dance educators Adrienne HawkinsDeb Mason, and Jeremy Alliger; and many others.