It’s been six years since dance legend Debra Austin received the 2020 Raleigh Medal of Arts. That’s three award cycles where dance artists were not represented in the Raleigh Medal of Arts recipients. Between 1984 and 2020, only seven dance artists and organizations have received the award. And in 2026, not one, not two, but three dance artists received the prestigious medal!
Why does it matter that dance is represented in the Raleigh Medal of Arts? It’s a signal that dance is making a big impact on our community – and our leaders are recognizing it. With dancers representing 33% of this year’s cohort of recipients, it’s impossible to ignore the artform’s significant presence in Raleigh. It proves:
- Audiences crave live performances from local talent.
- Students want to hone embodied movement beyond that of their everyday experiences.
- Dancers can create and maintain meaningful careers in Raleigh.
- And most importantly, that local dance has merit and is worth private, institutional, and governmental investment.
The medal itself doesn’t validate these artists’ incredible lifetime of work. Their dedication and the people they’ve inspired are what makes their work important. Rather, the medal brings dance to the front of local culture, shouting to the city, “Hey! Dance is thriving here. Go see a performance, take a class, and experience how dance can change your life.” And isn’t that our goal when we dance for ourselves and for others? To connect, to experience, and to change one another through movement.
Congratulations Chasta Hamilton (Stage Door Dance Productions), Michelle Pearson (Black Box Dance Theatre), and Zalman (“Zali”) Raffael (Carolina Ballet) for receiving Raleigh’s most prestigious award in the arts. Your work continues to foster an inspiring, mission-driven dance community in the Triangle.
Read more about the 2026 Raleigh Medal of Arts here.
Known photo credit:
Zalman Raffael by Joshua Dwight
Other photos are from the Raleigh Arts Commission‘s webpage here: https://lnkd.in/dX9AjAPx
About the Raleigh Medal of Arts // The Raleigh Medal of Arts is the City of Raleigh’s highest honor in the arts. Since 1984, Raleigh Arts has awarded 183 Medals to artists, performers, organizations, and visionary leaders who have made Raleigh such a creative capital city.
Author: Emily Robison
Emily Robison is a dance choreographer, educator, performer, and advocate. She founded The Dance Resource in April 2026.
