Three Boston Conservatory Dance Alums Honored for Their Early-Career Promise

Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee contemporary dance alums ended their summers by receiving awards from two distinguished organizations—Princess Grace Foundation and Jacob’s Pillow—for their potential as extraordinary emerging artists poised to positively impact the field of dance.

India Hobbs (BFA '21) and Demetrius Lee (BFA '24) received Princess Grace awards, one of the most highly coveted honors for rising performing artists. Granted by the Princess Grace Foundation, awards are given to a select number of early-career professionals in theater, dance, and film. The 2026 Princess Grace Award class includes just 18 members, and Hobbs and Lee represent half of the dance recipients. 

The award comes with a generous grant and support throughout their careers, as well as the support of their fellow awardees. Notable recipients include Carlos Acosta, Leslie Odom Jr., Oscar Isaac, and Danielle Deadwyler, as well as Boston Conservatory faculty members John Lam and Kurt Douglas. 

“What this award means for me right now is validation, reassurance, and a sense of fuel,” says Lee, who is about to begin his third season as a company artist with the Saint Louis Dance Theatre, which nominated him for the award. “It gives me space to rebrand myself as an individual and reshape my craft in ways that feel true to who I am. It’s a chance to show more of who I am, not only as a creative, but as a human.” He’s looking forward to “the opportunity to step into more rooms, connect with more people, and reach communities in ways I’ve always dreamed of.”

For Hobbs, getting the call from the foundation was “a very emotional moment,” she says. “I was immediately overwhelmed with joy and so much gratitude.”

Currently based in New York City, Hobbs is preparing for her sixth season with GALLIM dance company, and was nominated for the award by Andrea Miller, the company’s founder and artistic director, herself a 2009 Princess Grace Award winner for choreography. She credits former faculty member Russell Clarke, who passed away earlier this year, as “a huge reason why I am receiving such an award today.…His belief in my artistry motivated me to pursue my dreams.”

Meanwhile, Lilly David (BFA '26) has been recognized with the Jacob’s Pillow 2026 Lorna Strassler Award for Student Excellence, the school’s top scholarship. The award from Jacob’s Pillow, an international dance hub in the Berkshires, includes tuition reimbursement and a cash prize to support a dancer’s burgeoning career.

“It feels affirming to be recognized for my work as a student, as I really strive to continue learning and improving,” David shares. “Particularly in a field where rejection is inevitable, it’s a reminder that I have the tools to succeed.”

Her perspective on her craft was deeply impacted by Associate Professor Kurt Douglas, a 2002 Princess Grace Award recipient with whom she studied all four years at Boston Conservatory. “He helped me with having command over my body while dancing and how to articulate and coordinate it. This deep understanding of how I dance has served me time and time again,” she reflects. 

Learn more about Boston Conservatory’s top-tier dance programs.