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National Museum of Dance Celebrates Tommy Tune
Award-winning Broadway dancer and choreographer is inducted into dance Hall of Fame
Tommy Tune (Photo: Paul Kolnik)
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Entering the National Museum of Dance, the grand foyer is flooded with natural light. The spacious room is elegant and pristine, and the names of dancing greats border the walls. Tudor, Ailey, Nijinska, Cunningham, Karinska and Fosse appear in gold as your eyes pan the room. This is the only museum of its kind in the nation, one dedicated to professional dance. Located in the former Washington Bath House in Saratoga Springs, NY, the museum houses exhibitions with costumes, videos and photos chronicling achievements and innovations in dance.
The Hall of Fame is one of two permanent collections (the other is an exhibition of the history of the Washington Bath House building). The Hall of Fame celebrates the work of over a century’s worth of American dance legends, including Fred Astaire, Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham and Peter Martins. This year’s inductee is Broadway star Tommy Tune. The gala celebration will be held on August 1, followed by the induction ceremony on August 2. Tune will become the 39th inductee, and this year’s “Gala on Broadway” features the entertainer of the evening Tommy Tune dancing with his sister Gracie Tune.
The evening of dinner and dancing honors Tune’s career as a Broadway dancer, actor, choreographer and director, winning nine Tony Awards. He has also been in films such as Hello Dolly and The Boy Friend. A name throughout the entertainment industry, his work touches on all areas of the dance world, from on-stage to behind-the-scenes. An exhibit has been created for the induction and will be on display all year. The show will include some of Tune’s donated shoes and artwork—his own paintings, which he creates in his Manhattan studio—and will travel to other museums after it is taken down next summer.
With several shows that relate to Tune’s career, Ballet, Broadway and Beyond is an exhibition of the work of renowned photographer Paul Kolnik, as part of Art in the Foyer. Featured are stunning photographs of Broadway shows like Hairspray, Sweet Charity and West Side Story, as well as iconic New York City Ballet performances of Fancy Free, Apollo, and Slaughter of Tenth Avenue. The photos will be on display through October and are vibrant, detailed images of past and present.
Walking through the museum’s various exhibitions is like touring a live archive of dance and its greatest achievements. So, you can leave your dance history textbook at home: it is summer after all. The National Museum of Dance is located at 99 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY. For further information call 518.582.2225 or visit dancemuseum.org.