Missy Elliott to receive icon award at dancers’ cancer charity gala
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Missy Elliott will receive the Icon Award at Dancers Against Cancer’s annual Gala of the Stars, with Janet Jackson returning to present it. The award recognises Elliott’s contributions to music, dance and entertainment, and brings together two generations of influential performers.
The gala takes place on 22 October at the Beverly Hilton and raises money for financial assistance to dancers, dance educators and their families affected by cancer. Toni Basil will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and Vincent Paterson the Vanguard Award; Paula Abdul will present a legacy award, whose recipient has not yet been announced. The event will include a performance by Chloé Arnold’s tap group Syncopated Ladies, with Maksim Chmerkovskiy hosting.
- Janet Jackson will present Missy Elliott with the Icon Award.
- The gala supports dancers and families affected by cancer.
- Toni Basil and Vincent Paterson will also be honoured.
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Missy Elliott is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and producer whose work has helped shape hip-hop and popular music. Dance has been central to many of her videos and performances, which are known for their distinctive choreography.
Dancers Against Cancer is a nonprofit that provides financial help to dancers, dance teachers and their families affected by cancer. Its annual Gala of the Stars raises money for that support while recognising people who have made contributions to dance and entertainment.
Full account
Missy Elliott will receive the Icon Award at this year’s Gala of the Stars, the annual benefit for Dancers Against Cancer (DAC). Janet Jackson, who received the same honour in 2025, is due to present the award. The gala is scheduled for 22 October at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.
DAC provides financial assistance to dancers, dance teachers and their families affected by cancer. The event is its flagship fundraiser; one report says the gala has helped the organisation distribute millions of dollars in aid since it began. Noah Lands, DAC’s chief executive and the gala’s executive producer, said Elliott’s work had inspired generations of performers.
The programme will also recognise dancer and choreographer Toni Basil with a Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Anita Mann, and director and choreographer Vincent Paterson with a Vanguard Award, presented by Julie McDonald and Tony Selznick. Paula Abdul will present the Paula Abdul Legacy Award; its recipient has not yet been announced. Maksim Chmerkovskiy is returning as host, and Chloé Arnold’s all-female tap group, Syncopated Ladies, is scheduled to perform. One account specifies that the group will perform to Abdul’s ‘Straight Up’.
The black-tie evening will include dinner, an awards ceremony and live entertainment. Liza Minnelli is named as honorary chair, and the gala committee includes Mann, McDonald, NappyTabs, Tori Spelling and William Seely. One report also identifies the gala’s producers and director, and gives career milestones for Elliott, Basil and Abdul; the other focuses more on the event’s honours and arrangements.
Where outlets differ
Both reports agree on the honourees, presenters, host, venue, date and honorary chair. One calls Elliott’s honour the ‘Icon Awards’, while the other uses the singular ‘Icon Award’.
The second report adds biographical and chart details about Elliott, Basil and Abdul, says the Syncopated Ladies will perform ‘Straight Up’, and describes the gala’s production team and fundraising history. The first does not include those details and instead quotes Lands on the awards and returning participants.
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Originally published by The Hollywood Reporter as “Missy Elliott to Be Honored at Dancers Against Cancer’s Gala of the Stars”.