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Sunday Spotlight: Meet the Princess Grace Award winning Dancers

Welcome to our “Sunday Spotlight” series, where we recognize many of the incredible artists who have been awarded by the Princess Grace Foundation-USA.

This week, we are delighted to introduce you to some of our celebrated Princess Grace Award-winning Dancers. Dancers are masters of blending technique and artistry; making every movement look effortless. With live performances on pause due to Covid 19, these Princess Grace Awards winners are also masters at ingenuity creating ways to stay engaged through virtual performances, classes, and social media.

The Princess Grace Foundation-USA is dedicated to upholding the legacy of Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco, (neé Grace Kelly) and elevating extraordinary emerging artists in theater, dance and film through career-advancing grants. Through annual unrestricted support, the Princess Grace Awards program recognizes creative generators (animators, theater directors, designers, playwrights, choreographers, filmmakers, etc.) and performance-based creatives (actors, dancers, etc.).

Applications for the Princess Grace Awards 2021 are now closed. The new class of 2021 Princess Grace Award winners will be announced in July 2021!

Isabella Boylston

Dance, 2009

Cary Joji Fukunaga at the Princess Grace Foundation-USA Gala, posing on the red carpet wearing glasses

Isabella Boylston is one of the most renowned ballerinas in the world. A principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre in New York City, she’s danced iconic roles in ballet such as Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet. Beyond the stage, Isabella is one of ballet’s biggest social media stars, performed as Jennifer Lawrence’s dance double in the Red Sparrow, and even set a Guinness World Record - for the most dancers to ever go on pointe at the same time. The Princess Grace Foundation has been honored to be part of her artistic journey since 2009.

James Bond "No Time to Die" to be released in Fall 2021 — Isabella Boylston as principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre's "Swan Lake"

Follow Isabella at @isabellaboylston

Dormeshia

Dance, 1994

Dormeshia is an American tap dancer, choreographer, and instructor who has been called "the mastress of her generation." As a performer Dormeshia is the recipient of a Bessie Award and a Chita Rivera Award and made her Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning Bring in Da’Noise, Bring In Da’Funk as the only female tap dancer (initially performing as a man). As a choreographer Dormeshia created And Still You Must Swing, a show the New York Times called ‘the most moving dance show of the year” in 2019. Now in 2021 Dormeshia will be featured on the USPS’s stamps celebrating tap. Singular enough in her craft to go only by her first name, the Princess Grace Foundation is proud to call Dormesia an Award winner.

NIJLA MU’MIN on the set of JINN — Dormeshia performing in her show,"And Still You Must Swing"

Tappers can take a virtual class with Dormeshia every Monday and postage stamps featuring Dormeshia and other tap artists will be available in July.

Robert Battle

Dance, 1993

Robert Battle is the Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the U.S.’s most well known dance companies. Before taking the helm at AAADT, Robert had his own company Battleworks Dance Company and in 2005 was honored as one of the “Masters of African American Choreography” by the Kennedy Center. Robert’s journey to the top of the modern dance world started when he was a young dancer at the Juilliard School; it was there in 1993 that the Foundation was first introduced to Robert and has been proud to be a part of his career ever since. Now as Robert guides the Ailey Company, he also pays it forward nominating the next generation of extraordinary dancers and choreographers for the Princess Grace Awards.

Anthony Ramos (left) and John David Washington star in 'Monsters and Men' — Robert Battle and the Alvin Ailey dancers rehearsing "Takademe"

Check out Ailey’s All Access to see Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Robert’s choreography. The playlist rotates; currently playing is Robert’s exhilarating piece, Takedame.

Harper Watters

Dance, 2015

Jon M Chu at the Princess Grace Foundation-USA Gala, posing on the red carpet

Harper Watters is a soloist for the Houston Ballet who also serves as a role model dedicated to empowering those in his communities to live in their authentic expression. Harper became a viral sensation with his videos of him dancing in his towering pink heels and since then has delighted his fans with his TikTok videos, photoshoots in Elle and Teen Vogue, and collaborations with Ralph Lauren and Sweet Green. The Princess Grace Foundation got to know Harper when he was in the corps de ballet at Houston Ballet when he received his Dance Fellowship.

The “Crazy Rich Asians” cast with director Jon M. Chu (second from left) and executive producer Kevin Kwan (far right) — Harper Watters modeling in Ralph Lauren's limited edition Polo Pride campaign

Follow Harper on TikTok and Sweetgreen aficionados should try his sweetgreen custom salad

Tiler Peck

Dance, 2004

Principal dancer at one of the country’s top ballet companies ✓ Performed on Broadway ✓ Author of Katarina Ballerina ✓ Appearing on tv series like Tiny Pretty Things and becoming the first ballet dancer to perform on Ellen ✓ - Tiler Peck has done it all and continues to reach new heights as an artist. Now with performances put on hold, Tiler keeps up her technique and teaches the next generation hosting “Turn it Out with Tiler” on IG live. Tiler received her Princess Grace Award at only 14 years old while still a student at the School of American Ballet and the Foundation has been proud to support and be a part of her artistic journey ever since.