Assembly Resolution No. 1168
BY: M. of A. Bronson
COMMEMORATING the 55th Anniversary of Garth Fagan
Dance
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those organizations whose purpose has been steadfast in
providing cultural education, entertainment, and philanthropy in our
great State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 55th Anniversary of Garth Fagan Dance to be celebrated
at a Gala on Friday, May 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Garth Fagan was born in Jamaica in 1940, the son of an
Oxford-educated father who served as Jamaica's chief education officer;
he came to the United States to study psychology at Wayne State
University in Detroit, Michigan, working with city dance students and
the Detroit Contemporary Dance Company as primary dancer and
choreographer; ten years later, he was on his way to New York City; and
WHEREAS, Garth Fagan Dance began in 1970 when the Nation was just
beginning to emerge from a tumultuous decade of riots and widespread
unrest; as part of his recent appointment to the faculty at the State
University of New York at Brockport, Garth Fagan began teaching dance
classes at the SUNY Educational Opportunity Center in downtown
Rochester; and
WHEREAS, Many of Garth Fagan's students had no previous training,
and most came from economically disadvantaged inner-city backgrounds;
inspired by their raw talent, this phenomenal instructor transformed
this unconventional group into a professional company, not based in a
cultural capital, but in upstate New York; the company gave its first
public performance in Buffalo on November 15, 1970, under the name,
"Bottom of the Bucket BUT... Dance Theater"; and
WHEREAS, In 1990, Garth Fagan Dance performed for the first time at
Lincoln Center, and the Garth Fagan Dance School officially opened; and
WHEREAS, The mission of Garth Fagan Dance is to create an
environment in which an appreciation for dance and all of the arts is
instilled and fostered; adhering to the Fagan mantra, "Discipline is
Freedom," GFDS builds self-esteem and leadership skills while increasing
the mental and physical strength of the students; the professional dance
setting provides structure for students of all levels, especially those
preparing for a career in dance; and
WHEREAS, "The Lion King" opened at the New Amsterdam Theater in New
York City in 1997; the following year, Garth Fagan received the Tony
Award for Best Choreography; the production has run continuously ever
since, making Garth Fagan the longest-running Black choreographer on
Broadway; and
WHEREAS, What started as a hometown dance troupe has evolved into an
internationally acclaimed contemporary American dance company that
continuously captivates and inspires diverse audiences around the world;
Garth Fagan has single-handedly made Rochester an incubator for
world-class contemporary dance; and
WHEREAS, In November 2023, Garth Fagan stepped back from leadership
of his company, moving into the role of Founder and Distinguished
Artistic Director Emeritus; that same year, the Garth Fagan Dance
Archives were acquired by the Library of Congress; and
WHEREAS, Garth Fagan has received honorary doctorates from the
Juilliard School, the University of Rochester, Nazareth College, Hobart
and William Smith Colleges, and, most recently, the Rochester Institute
of Technology; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body joins in celebrating the rich legacy
of Garth Fagan Dance this milestone year while the company continues its
founding mission of creation, performance, community education, and
dance training for young people of all backgrounds and draws on the
grounded strength of modern dance, the vivacity of Afro-Caribbean dance,
and the meticulousness of ballet; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 55th Anniversary of Garth Fagan Dance; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Garth Fagan Dance.
