Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition

Artists leaders and artist-run groups addressing policy issues that affect artists in Massachusetts

2018 Champion of Artists Awardee Spotlight: Adrienne Hawkins

As we lead up to 12th Annual “Artists Under The Dome” Event and the MALC 2018 “Champion of Artists” Awards on November 14, 2018, at the State House, we are highlighting each of the six “Champion of Artists” awardees. This post is highlighting Adrienne Hawkins.

Adrienne Hawkins portrait
Adrienne Hawkins


This is the third time MALC has given these awards, which will be part of the morning program. The award ceremony will begin at 10:30am in the State House’s Great Hall, located on the second floor. This ceremony, along with all the events that are part of the annual Artists Under the Dome event, are free and open to the public.  Although it is not required, we are urging people to register for the event.  For more information and to register: http://www.artistsunderthedome.org/annualevent.htm

This year’s awardees in alphabetical order:

  • State Representative Cory Atkins, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development
  • Adrienne Hawkins, Dance Artist, Master Teacher, Choreographer
  • Julie Hennrikus, Founder of Your Ladders, Arts Advocate, Mystery Author
  • Meri Jenkins, Cultural Districts Program Manager/Massachusetts Cultural Council
  • Lou Jones, Photographer
  • Save the Art–Save the Museum (STA-STM): Art advocates protecting the Public Trust at the Berkshire Museum

Adrienne Hawkins has been a creative force in the performance and dance community for over 40 years. She is one of the most accomplished and innovative individuals in the fields of dance, teaching, and choreography. So many artists in these fields were taught and mentored by her while many others have been so fortunate to perform for and with her. Countless patrons have been blessed to see her perform and to see her choreographic works brought to life by others.  Many owe their careers and their love of dance and choreography to her.

Profile: Adrienne Hawkins

Ms. Hawkins holds a BA in Education from Arizona State University and a MFA in Dance from Connecticut College. Ms. Hawkins was Artistic Director of Impulse Dance Company of Boston, which had been in existence for over forty years. Impulse Dance had toured extensively in the United States and abroad, Impulse has opened for such artist as Miles Davis, and Al Green.

In addition to creating over 30 dances for Impulse Dance Company, Ms. Hawkins has set choreography on the National Ballet of Iceland, Ballet Plus, Dance Express in Denmark, Northwest Florida Ballet, Bosoma Dance Co, and the Portland Ballet to name a few. In addition to owning her own studio for over 10 years, Ms. Hawkins has been an adjunct or full faculty member for Boston University, Boston Conservatory, Harvard University, University of the Arts, UMass Amherst, Mt. Holyoke, R.I.C. and Stonehill College to name a few. Ms. Hawkins has won numerous choreographic awards; in addition to her concert work she has choreographed rock musicals, music videos, commercials, and industrials, she also has danced with Cab Calloway and the Cotton Club Revue. Ms. Hawkins has been a guest teacher/performer in, Japan, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Northern Ireland, Caribbean, Iceland, Germany and throughout the USA in Festivals such as The Harvard summer Dance Program and The American Dance Festival in Connecticut, North Carolina and Japan.

Ms. Hawkins has been a adjudicator for Presidential Arts and Talent, on the Boards of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, McCormick Center for the Arts, The Piano Craft Guild, Brookline Center for the Arts, and Boston Dance Alliance.