Lucinda Childs, Pioneering Choreographer, to Receive Honorary Degree from Sarah Lawrence college
Bronxville — April 25, 2025 — Renowned choreographer Lucinda Childs will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Arts degree at Sarah Lawrence College’s commencement ceremony. the sarah Lawrence College Board of Trustees voted to honor the influential artist and alumna, class of ’62, for her groundbreaking work in postmodern dance. For more on Childs’s influential contributions, read on.
Lucinda Childs, Pioneering Choreographer, to Receive Honorary Degree from Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, NY – The Sarah Lawrence college Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to award alumna Lucinda Childs, class of ’62, an honorary Doctor of Arts degree at the college’s 97th commencement ceremony.
A Legacy of Innovation in dance
Ms. Childs, a groundbreaking choreographer and performer, has profoundly shaped postmodern dance for more than half a century. Her career began instantly after graduation when she joined the Judson Dance Theater, a pivotal force in the downtown New York dance scene. In 1973, she established her own dance company, and since then, she has conceived and produced over 50 original works.
Did you Know?
Lucinda Childs’s early work was recently showcased in a performance project at Sarah Lawrence College [3], highlighting her enduring influence on dance education and performance.
- 1973: Formed her own dance company.
- 50+: Number of original works created.
Collaboration and acclaim
Childs’s influence extends beyond her own company. In 1976, she collaborated with Philip Glass and Robert Wilson on the avant-garde opera Einstein on the Beach,
for which she received an Obie Award. This landmark production cemented her reputation as a visionary artist.
In 1979, childs was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for Dance,
one of her most celebrated works, featuring music by Philip Glass and film décor by Sol LeWitt. Dance
has toured internationally and has been incorporated into the repertory of the Lyon Opera Ballet, where she also choreographed beethoven’s Grande Fugue.
Pro Tip: Experiencing Lucinda Childs’s Work
To fully appreciate Childs’s choreography, seek out performances that combine live dance with film and music. Her interdisciplinary approach creates a unique and immersive experience.
Since 1981, Ms. childs has choreographed more than 30 works for major ballet companies,including the Paris Opera Ballet,Les Ballets de Monte Carlo,and Baryshnikov’s White oak Dance Company. she has also directed and choreographed several contemporary and 18th-century operas, most recently Philip Glass’s Akhnaten
for the Opera of Nice Côte d’Azur.
Honors and Recognition
Ms. Childs’s contributions to the arts have been widely recognized. She holds the rank of Commandeur in France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Her other accolades include:
- Bessie Award for Lifetime Achievement
- Golden Lion award from the Venice Biennale
- Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival award for lifetime achievement
- Enshrinement in the Hall of Fame of the National Museum of Dance
A Transformative Voice
Lucinda Childs has transformed dance with a bold and distinctive voice that began to take shape at Sarah Lawrence,”
President Cristle Collins Judd
Ms.Judd added, Conferring this honorary degree recognizes both her remarkable legacy in the arts and the enduring influence of a Sarah lawrence education.
Commencement details
Sarah Lawrence College’s 97th Commencement ceremony will be held on Friday,May 9.
FAQ
- when is the commencement ceremony?
- Friday, May 9.
- What degree is Lucinda Childs receiving?
- doctor of Arts,honoris causa.
- What is Lucinda Childs known for?
- Pioneering choreography and performance in postmodern dance.
