12 competitors, lineups confirmed for The A.W.A.R.D. Show! 2010

Just a few hours before the first Chicago works funded by The A.W.A.R.D. Show! premiere at Ruth Page, the consortium in charge of the program has announced who will duke it out the week of July 26 for this year’s suitcase of cash.

(If all that makes absolutely no sense, check out Asimina Chremos’s overview of the now-national program from TOC 225.)

Competing in the first round, July 28 at the Dance Center of Columbia College:

Jacqueline Stewart, also premiering work this weekend
Alicia Wilson, dance critic at the Windy City Times
Mike Gosney, founder and director of Elements Contemporary Ballet
Kate Corby, of Kate Corby & Dancers and the late LIVE ANIMALS Performance Collective

In round two, July 29:

Peter Carpenter, namesake of the Peter Carpenter Performance Project
Independent artist and former Luna Negra dancer Rebecca Lemme
Michel Rodriguez of Hedwig Dances
Molly Shanahan, founder and director of Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak

And in the the third heat, July 30:

Mary Tisa, Inaside dancer and half of Jay-son Tisa Dance Company
Ginger Krebs, performance faculty at SAIC, and Andy Braddock
Seldoms dancer Philip Elson
Joanna Rosenthal, director of Same Planet Different World

Finals will be held July 31; all shows are at 8pm. Only one 2009 competitor reappears—Molly Shanahan—but still, we’re looking at the same mix of established and upstart choreographers as last year’s top 12. Ten grand goes to the winner to pour into his or her work, and $1,000 each to two runners-up.