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1991
Oregon Governor’s Arts Awards, Guest Choreographer

1992-1994
National Endowment for the Arts 2-year Choreographer’s Fellowship

1995-1996

National Endowment for the Arts Choreographer’s Fellowship

1997

First DanceAbility Teacher Certification Training happens in Eugene, Oregon

1987

DanceAbility International is founded by Alito Alessi and Karen Nelson

1987-1988
Common Foundation Artist in Community Award

1991
National Educational Film & Video Festival, Silver Apple Award, and American Film & Video Association Festival , Finalist, for ‘Common Ground: Dance and Disability’ (co-producer, teacher of workshop documented)

2017

DanceAbility is featured as the Gala company and Keynote speaker at National Dance Day in Shanghai, China

Second Master Teacher Certification Course is offered in Trier, Germany

2016

Oregon Public Broadcasting airs DanceAbillity International documentary on ArtBeat

2015

First Master Teacher Certification Course is offered in Montevideo, Uruguay

2007

Alessi is awarded Hong Kong Choreographer of the Year

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Alito Alessi is awarded recognition as a Fulbright Senior Specialist

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Marisa Lusiardo De Leon makes a contribution to form DanceAbility Latin America

2005
Fentress Endowment Award, Eugene Arts and Letters Award

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Alito Alessi receives a Guggenheim Fellowship

1974
University of Oregon Kole Cup Award and Joseph Kinsman Starr scholarship for outstanding community contributions

1979

Joint Forces Dance was founded."Hoop Dance" received critical acclaim and proceeds to be performed globally.

1998-1999
Youth Board and the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture
Project

1989-1990
Metropolitan Arts Commission Award

1990-1991

Oregon Arts Commission Choreographer’s Fellowship

1974           1980                       1990                                                  2000                                                   2010

1988-1989
Tides Foundation Award

2006

DanceAbility receives an Asian Cultural Council Fellowship

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