Awards

Over the years, the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management has honored individuals who have contributed significantly to American dance and dance education through its Living Treasure in American Dance awards. Inspired by the Chinese tradition of honoring leading artists while they are still living, a number of living legends have traveled to the OCU campus to receive this special recognition.

Living Treasure Honorees

1989 - Tommy Sutton
1990 - Honi Coles
1991 - Al Gilbert
1992 - Gus Giordano
1993 - Buster Brown
1994 - Maceo Anderson
1995 - Peg Leg Bates
1998 - Jimmy Slyde
1998 - Dianne Walker
1999 - Cholly Atkins
2000 - Leonard Reed
2001 - Marion Coles & the Silver Bells:

• Elanie Ellis
• Cleo Hayes
• Fay Ray
• Bertye Lou Wood
• Geraldine Rhodes-Kenney

2002 - Bunny Briggs
2002 - Jeni LeGon
2002 - Fayard Nicholas
2002 - Prince Spencer
2004 - Ernest "Brownie" Brown
2005 - Arthur Duncan
2007 - Deborah Mitchell

2011 - Debbi Dee

Other Honorary Awards

Lifetime Achievement in Dance Education Award Recipient:

Melba Huber (1993)

Arts Management Enterprise Award Recipients:

Art & Nancy Stone (2002)

1999 marked the inaugural presentation of the Preservation of our Heritage-American Dance Award. The Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment continues the recognition of those who have nurtured and supported American dance through their advocacy. Without these writers, historians, and champions, the world would be less aware of the uniquely American dance forms and the artists who created, developed, and evolved them. It is through the diligence and dedication of these committed supporters that American dance remains in the hearts and minds of the American public and the world.

Preservation of our Heritage Honorees

• 1999 - Melba Huber
• 1999 - Sali Ann Kriegsman
• 2000 - Robert L. Reed
• 2000 - Jacqui Malone
• 2001 - Al Heyward
• 2001 - Carl Schlesinger
• 2002 - Art & Nancy Stone
• 2003 - K.C. Patrick
• 2006 - Patricia Goulding
• 2008 - Lee Allen Smith
• 2008 - Blake Wade
• 2009 - Avi Miller
• 2009 - Ofer Ben
• 2009 - Germain Salsbeg

Oklahoma City University's School of American Dance and Entertainment presents Honorary Doctor of Performing Arts in American Dance degrees to American dancers who have contributed significantly to the creation, development, preservation, and promotion of the American art form of tap.

"It does not surprise me that Oklahoma City University would lead the way in honoring these great performers," said national tap dance columnist Melba Huber. "Oklahoma City University, with the guidance of John Bedford and Jo Rowan, has become the premiere dance school in the world because of its recognition of the American art forms tap and jazz."

Honorary Doctorate Recipients

• 1998 - David Howard
• 2000 - Donald O'Connor
• 2002 - Cholly Atkins
• 2002 - Bunny Briggs
• 2002 - Buster Brown
• 2002 - Jeni LeGon
• 2002 - Henry LeTang
• 2002 - Fayard Nicholas
• 2002 - Leonard Reed
• 2002 - Jimmy Slyde
• 2002 - Prince Spencer
• 2008 - Arthur Duncan