Dancers Out Front, Janet Jackson Hands Missy Elliott the Icon Award at the Beverly Hilton

Janet Jackson presented Missy Elliott with the Icon Award at the Gala of the Stars, the Dancers Against Cancer benefit held Thursday, October 22, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Forbes reported in a story republished by Yahoo.

Jackson received the same award at last year’s gala, so the night played as one icon handing the honor to the next, Bossip reported. Maks Chmerkovskiy hosted the evening, and Liza Minnelli served as honorary chair, according to Forbes.

What Janet Jackson Said About Missy Elliott

Jackson framed Elliott as the artist who moved dancers from the back line to the front of the frame.

“Missy helped make dancers impossible to ignore,” Jackson told the room, according to Bossip. “She didn’t just put dancers in the spotlight, she helped change the spotlight itself.”

Elliott took the same theme into her acceptance speech and aimed it at the dancers in the ballroom.

“Dancers are not just props on a stage behind artists,” she said, Bossip reported. “Y’all are artists too!”

Afterward Elliott wrote to Jackson on Instagram that the two had been friends for “way over two decades,” according to Bossip. “I Love you, j, & thank you for this award it’s the best feeling getting a ICON award from a ICON!”

Who Else Was Honored

Toni Basil, the dancer and choreographer who topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982 with “Mickey,” received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Anita Mann, Forbes reported. Director and choreographer Vincent Paterson received the Vanguard Award from Julie McDonald and Tony Selznick.

Paula Abdul presented the Paula Abdul Legacy Award in posthumous recognition of Chita Rivera. “Chita showed us what it means to tell a story with your whole being,” Abdul said, according to Forbes. Carmen Electra presented Hilaria Baldwin with the Philanthropist of the Year award.

Basil, accepting her honor, put it plainly. “Dance is my drug of choice. Dance is my obsession. Dance is my lover and has never let me down,” she said, Forbes reported.

The floor show leaned on the honorees’ catalogs. JoJo Siwa performed “Boomerang,” Chloé Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies danced to “Straight Up,” and Anthony Kanec gave a dance tribute to Elliott, according to Forbes. RuPaul, Queen Latifah, Tori Spelling and Robert Herjavec were among the guests.

What the Gala Pays For

Dancers Against Cancer is a nonprofit that gives financial help to dancers, dance educators, choreographers and their families facing cancer, according to the organization. Founder Noah Lands executive produced the gala, Forbes reported. Before the night, Lands said in a statement that “Missy Elliott represents everything the Icon Award celebrates,” Cover Media reported.

Forbes reported that the night raised more than $760,000. The organization’s campaign page lists $763,822 raised against a $250,000 goal. Last year’s gala, where Minnelli gave Jackson the same award, raised more than $700,000, the Beverly Press reported.