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Encore Awards

Robert Cohen’s relationship with Young Dancers in Repertory, a Brooklyn-based dance ensemble, began in the Spring of 1997 when he began serving as a volunteer architectural consultant to aid in the continuing modification of the company’s building. Robert has quickly become an integral member of the Young Dancer’s "family," and is continuing to play an important role in the company’s growth.

When Young Dancers received a donation of a three-story Brooklyn row house, it was faced with a multitude of problems converting a structure not originally constructed as a dance studio. Robert assessed the immediate needs of the space and worked with the company to form a plan of attack for renovations and expansion.

During the course of this project, Robert has spent many hours consulting with architects, structural engineers and contractors to put together an extensive, long term plan for the current building, as well as accompanying members of the staff to explore South Brooklyn for other potential sites in which to house Young Dancers’ activities. He has consolidated these efforts into a comprehensive document, "Preliminary Site Upgrades and Alternative Site Options," that includes project timelines and budgets, photographs and renderings of proposed sites and current site renovations, bid estimates and zoning analyses.

Robert has truly brought Young Dancers in Repertory to a new level by helping to formulate the narrative and budget for a grant proposal to the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Community Arts Development Program which resulted in an $18,000 award to commence the first phase of its renovation project. The staff of Young Dancers believe that Robert’s work, "has gone well beyond that of just a consultant. He has become a confidant, mentor, partner and friend.