Milestones, Awards & Honors

Shira Greenberg is appointed to the State of New Mexico Children’s Code Task Force, charged with re-writing the New Mexico Children’s Code, the primary legal statute overseeing juvenile justice and foster care for the State. To our knowledge Greenberg is the first artist in the State’s history to be a part of the Children’s Code creation.

Greenberg is appointed to the Jacob’s Pillow National Dance Presenters Forum, supporting the Forum’s charge “to rebuild the network of dance presenters as we emerge from the pandemic; foster dialogue about the changed landscape of dance presenting; and encourage an expansive model of access and participation in the field.”

Keshet hosts the first partnership convening between Keshet’s Arts and Justice Initiatives and the Arts for Healing and Justice Network at the Keshet Center for the Arts, welcoming Arts and Justice organizations and Youth Leaders from Los Angeles, San Diego, New Orleans, New York, and Ohio for three days of learning and sharing.

Keshet receives a 2nd investment grant award from the US Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration – $1,200,000 to support the expansion of Keshet Center for the Arts and the Keshet Ideas and Innovation Community.

Shira Greenberg is appointed to the New Mexico Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Statewide Coordinating Council.

Keshet is gifted a long-standing fundraising wine gala event, which is rebranded and launched as Keshet’s inaugural ABQ Wine Classic.

Keshet premieres not one but two new Keshet Dance Company original new evening-length works – Keystones, by Shira Greenberg in April and Hevel by Ana Lopes Aréchiga in November.

Keshet launches a new partnership with the Workforce Connections of Central New Mexico, providing paid internships for system-impacted and formerly incarcerated young adults, formally kicking off Keshet’s IDEAs Experience (Inquiry and Discovery through Education and the Arts).

Shira Greenberg is honored with the New Mexico Humanitarian Award: Harold B. Albert Community Service Award.

Keshet receives the Southwest Region Economic Development Administration (SWREDA) Star of the Southwest Award “for playing a critical role in helping bolster local & regional economies through job creation and infrastructure development.”

Keshet joins 23 additional local community organizations in the field of Juvenile Justice to launch the ABQ Justice for Youth Community Collaborative with the support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Keshet is awarded a $1,000,000 investment from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to expand Keshet’s Arts and Justice Initiatives.

Shira Greenberg is named a Program Advisor for the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, embarking on a three-year Advisory position.

Keshet Dance & Center for the Arts was voted the Best Local Nonprofit Brand, by finalist selection through the American Marketing Assoication and then through community votes with the B2B Expo NM.

Keshet Center for the Arts became one of a handful of Choreographic Centers in the nation, and the only of it’s kind to include arts entrepreneur business training in our Makers Space Experience. Ten choreographers from across the USA (arriving in two cohorts) spent 10 days at Keshet Center for the Arts with access to daily rehearsal space, technique classes, business training, and peer support as they developed new work.

Shira Greenberg is one of the first recipients of Women & Creativity’s The Shine Award. The Shine Awards elevate and celebrate the efforts and impact of our community’s women and their contributions to the arts, creativity, entrepreneurship, leadership, and shared vision. Shira was recognized for her commitment to the innovative idea that “dance is for everyone,” which has transformed Albuquerque’s community, creative economy, and the field of dance through the creation of Keshet Dance & Center for the Arts.

Keshet Dance receives the 2018 MINDBODY Visionary Award for being a business that supports our community and makes a positive impact on every person who comes through your doors, honored at the 2018 BOLD conference in San Diego, California.

Keshet formally launches the Keshet International Dance Festival with Navarasa Dance Theater’s (India/Boston/LA) world premiere of Snake and Ladder.

With support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Keshet launches the first “Keshet Fellowship for Contemporary Dance” with inaugural Fellow, Silva Laukkanen from Austin, TX.

The 20th annual, and finale run of Nutcracker on the Rocks, is presented at the Keshet Center for the Arts with a 26 show run including beautiful cameo appearances from past cast members over the past 20 years.

Shira Greenberg is a recipient of the 2016 Roslyn S. Jaffe Award, supporting everyday heroes who are making a meaningful impact in communities across the U.S., specifically in the areas of health, education, and social reform.

Keshet presents the Rio Grande Movement Collectors Festival, which is the seed that grows the Makers Space Experience at the Keshet Center for the Arts.

Keshet hosts the first Southwest/Mountain States Regional Convening on Adaptive/Inclusive Dance – co-presented by AXIS Dance Company and facilitated by AXIS’s Founder and Director Judith Smith, with performances by DanceAbility and master classes by DanceAbility Founder, Alito Alessi.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation provides Keshet with seed money to codify the M3 curriculum and launch programming in five pilot communities throughout the U.S. forging partnerships between local dance professionals and the local juvenile justice system of each pilot community.

Shira Greenberg is one of five women nationally to be awarded Traditional Home Magazine’s 2014 Classic Woman Award, recognizing extraordinary women who have made a difference in the lives of their communities.

Keshet provides the rights to Nutcracker on the Rocks to Cohesion Dance Project (Helena, MT), and Cohesion premieres its first annual “Shira Greenberg’s Nutcracker on the Rocks” over Thanksgiving weekend.

Keshet is selected as the first place photo winner in TechSoup’s Digital Storytelling Contest.

Keshet closes on the property at 4121 Cutler Ave NE in January, and in August moves in, transforming the former soundstage and adjoining warehouse into the Keshet Center for the Arts.

Keshet is awarded $1,000,000 from the US Department of Economic Development for the creation of the Keshet Ideas and Innovation Center at the Keshet Center for the Arts.

Romania’s Ministry of Culture brings Keshet’s Artistic Director to Bucharest to speak with government officials and arts leaders regarding Keshet’s unique arts initiatives and the creation of the Keshet Center for the Arts.

Keshet becomes an ambassador for City of Albuquerque’s Sister Cities Program, building arts and culture relationships with Rehovot, Israel.

Shira Greenberg, Keshet’s Founder and Artistic Director, is recognized as a Top-Performing CEO by New Mexico Business Weekly, honoring CEOs whose leadership has a positive impact on business and communities in New Mexico.

Shira Greenberg, Keshet’s Founder and Artistic Director, receives the Governor’s Award for Outstanding New Mexico Women, recognizing 20 women within the State who have made exceptional contributions and achievements in improving the status of women in New Mexico.

Shira Greenberg receives the New Mexico Business Weekly’s Women of Influence Award, celebrating women who have made a difference in the community, blazed a trail and left a mark on New Mexico business.

January 25 (FBG) – Keshet Board and Staff is restructured to insure a focus on mission and programming.

Keshet moves to 214 Coal, which will become its home for the next 13 years.

Keshet receives the National Bravo Network’s “2000 Smart Start – National Arts in Education Award,” awarded by the Bravo Network to only four arts organizations within the United States.

Keshet premieres Shira Greenberg’s Nutcracker on the Rocks at Rodey Theater, with a dedicated cast of 13 dancers, some crazy crew members, and a whole lot of shenanigans.