Jewish Women on the Map - Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival Award

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On June 23, 1997, Anna Halprin received the Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival Award for lifetime achievement in modern dance.  The award, which was presented at a ceremony in Durham, N.C., carried a $25,000 prize, the largest dance award presented annually.  It was a fitting tribute to a woman who, since the 1950s, has pushed the boundaries of avant-garde dance.

In 2000, the Dance Heritage Coalition named her one of "America's Irreplaceable Dance Treasures." In an interview following that announcement, she explained her philosophy of art, saying, "I work toward a future where … art is honored for its power to inspire, teach, transform, and heal. I work for a future where all the peoples, creatures, and landscapes of the world are dancing together."

See also: Anna Halprin in This Week in History; Anna Halprin in Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia.