STYLE 1 MEDIA >>> NYC DANCE ALLIANCE FOUNDATION GALA

NYC Dance Alliance Foundation "Bright Lights! Shining Stars!" Gala

NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 LaGuardia Place, NY, NY | 08.01.2011 | by Merry Esparza

Style 1 Media On August 1st NYC Dance Alliance Foundation (NYCDAF) held its biggest annual event, the "Bright Lights! Shining Stars! Gala," at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. The grand celebration of song and dance began with a red-carpet cocktail reception, followed by an evening of fabulous guest performances by Broadway stars and dance companies. NYCDAF presented the first Ambassador For The Arts Award to Guest of Honor, music legend Roberta Flack, and awarded more than $50,000 in college scholarships based on auditions held the previous evening. The evening finished with a star-studded champagne and dessert reception. (left: Guest of Honor Roberta Flack)

NYCDAF Founder/Executive Director Joe Lanteri, and Honorary Chairs Cassandra Seidenfeld-Lyster and Robin Cofer welcomed guests to the lively reception. Special gala performances included Tade Beisinger's Electricity from Broadway's Billy Elliot; 96,000 by Lin-Manuel Miranda and the cast of In The Heights; dance soloist Desmond Richardson in Moonlight from Complexions Contemporary Ballet; and performances by dancer Clifton Brown (formerly with Alvin Ailey) and Tony-nominated actress, Karine Plantadit from Come Fly Away.

Choreographers Chloe Arnold, Andy Blankenbuehler, AC Ciulla, Scott Jovovich, Andy Pellick, Dwight Rhoden, Stacey Tookey, and Brooke Wendle created works for the gala. Talented NYDAF Dancers and scholarship winners danced many of these pieces. The show kicked off with Scott Jovovich's rousing version of New York, New York from On the Town. Later Chloe Arnold and Syncopated Ladies performed Ms. Arnold's masterful tap dance number bedecked in costumes from designer Betsey Johnson. NYCDAF Star Fundraiser dance companies, Next Step Dance and KJ Dance, both coincidentally from Texas, each performed an ensemble piece.

A highlight of the evening was NYDAF's presentation of the Ambassador For The Arts Award to singer, composer, and musician Roberta Flack. Ms. Flack graciously accepted the award as her classic songs Killing Me Softly, Where is the Love, and First Time Ever I saw Your Face were performed by vocalists Katie Thompson, Ta'Rea Campbell, Michael Longoria, and Capathia Jenkins, and danced by Cindy Salgado, Karine Plantadit, and Clifton Brown.

The evening was a strong testament to the effectiveness of the work done by NYC Dance Alliance Foundation in broadening awareness, advocating education, and setting high standards of excellence in the performing arts. NYCDAF is committed to investing in the next generation of professional performers by offering scholarships for secondary and college education. The organization is partially supported by professional dance world entities like Dance Magazine, Capezio, Steps On Broadway, and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

For more information and to find out how you can help, please visit: NYC Dance Alliance.