May 21, 2024
Harrisburg Hilton
2024 Achievement Awards and Banquet
The 2024 Achievement Awards recognizes outstanding workers from around the state who demonstrate exceptional character in living and coping with disabilities, particularly in the workplace. For 2024, UniqueSource will celebrate 38 individuals for their outstanding work accomplishments and for their example of determination, passion, and success. The Achievement Awards are given during an awards banquet that features a cocktail reception, dinner banquet, and dessert reception.
The annual UniqueSource Achievement Awards Banquet is open to all those interested in celebrating with us. It is a ticketed event, not included with conference admission, Each UniqueSource Member organization will receive three complimentary tickets to the Achievement Awards Banquet - received by email to the official Member representative. Achievement Award recipients will receive their own set of tickets for the banquet.
Tickets for Achievement Awards Banquet are $175.00 per person. Ticket sales are now open. Full tables of 8 may be purchased by contacting Joe Ostrander.
Working Achievement Awards Banquet agenda
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Tuesday, May 21:
4:00 – 6:30 pm Awards registration open
4:45 – 5:30 pm Awardee photos
5:30 – 6:30 pm Cocktail reception
6:30 – 8:30 pm Achievement Awards dinner and ceremony with AXIS Dance Company
8:30 – 9:30 pm Dessert reception
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Achievement Awards Performers
Tuesday, May 21
Harmony of Souls
Harmony of Souls is a duet from choreographer Dazaun Soleyn that investigates trust and our innate sense of connection. Through movement, music, and visual storytelling, this piece blurs the boundaries between our individual and interconnected experience. It moves through spaces of beauty, tension and eventual release, capturing the essence of the bonds that make us human.
| Choreographer: Dazaun Soleyn |
Dancers: JanpiStar, Zara Anwar |
| Music Composition: Jordon Dabney |
Costume Designer: Natalya Shoaf |
| Lighting Designer: Walter Holden |
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Led by Artistic Director Nadia Adame and Managing Director Danae Rees, AXIS is one of the nation’s most acclaimed ensembles of disabled, non-disabled and neurodiverse performers. AXIS was founded in 1987 and creates world-class productions that challenge perceptions and redefine dance and disability. The Bay Area, California-based company has toured over 100 cities in the US, Israel and Palestine, UK, Europe, United Arab Emirates and Russia, and has received nine Isadora Duncan Dance Awards. AXIS commissions new work from a host of renowned international choreographers including Marc Brew, Arthur Pita, Robin Dekkers, Asun Noales and Jennifer Archibald. In tandem with a robust performance calendar, AXIS provides unparalleled integrated dance education and outreach programs. AXIS builds paths to dance education for disabled, non-disabled and neurodiverse people of all ages and experiences.
About the Performers:
JanpiStar (they/them/Janpi) was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Janpi has a Degree in Drama from the University of Puerto Rico, and had the opportunity of working with important actresses and choreographers in the island. Janpi worked with the theater group "Jóvenes del 98" (2016 -2018) in Puerto Rico until they moved to Oakland California and joined AXIS Dance Company. JanpiStar has worked with choreographers including Petra Bravo in "Instalaciones Coreograficas , las Casitas de Santurce" (Fine Arts Center of Puerto Rico, 2016), Arthur Pita in "Alice in Californiland (2019), Jennifer Archibald in "Petrichor" (2019), and Asun Noales in "Desiderata" (2022). Janpi has also been commissioned by different Bay Area festivals & organizations including Queering Dance Festival (2019, 2020 & 2022) and the FreshMeat Festival (2021 & 2022).
Zara Anwar (she/her) was born and raised in Columbia, MD. She graduated from the Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA Program summa cum laude with Honors in May of 2020. Prior to attending the program, she trained at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater on scholarship and graduated from Baltimore School for the Arts. She has trained with Cambrians with Benjamin Holliday Wardell, Hubbard Street Dance, Vim Vigor, Colorado Conservatory of Dance, Oklahoma City Ballet, Post: Ballet, Dance Works Chicago, and Bruce Wood Dance on scholarship. She toured Latin America doing community outreach, performances, and workshops with Juntos Collective. She has worked with and performed works of distinguished choreographers in the Bay Area and is grateful to contribute to AXIS’ mission through her dancing and talents, with gratitude.