FIFTEENTH ANNUAL FIRE ISLAND DANCE FESTIVAL PRESENTS RAISES $246,000 for DANCERS RESPONDING TO AIDS
The Fire Island Dance Festival, Dancers Responding to AIDS' (DRA) signature event, celebrated its fifteenth year in Fire Island Pines with an undisputed artistic and financial success. This year's festival, hosted by Bruce Vilanch presented twelve dances by world renowned, established, and emerging dance companies and choreographers. The event was held on the weekend of July 17th in Fire Island Pines at the home of Jon Biondo, Tim Horman and Ryan Coutu , outdoors against a backdrop of the sun setting over the Great South Bay. The three sold out performances raised $246,000 for Dancers Responding to AIDS.
The Festival officially kicked off on Friday July 17th at the Albert Lepage Pavilion at Whyte Hall with an elegant cocktail party. The FIDF 15 Committee played host to over 400 VIP guests who were treated to cocktails by Vlada, The Monster, and BV Wines. Whimsical green themed décor was created by designer Kent Fritzel and musical accompaniment was provide by DJ Marc Coté. At the close of the evening, partygoers received the recently released photo book “FESTIVAL” a collection of images by world renowned dance photographer Rosalie O’Connor published by MOVMNT Magazine.
Fire Island Dance Festival Fifteen was emceed by two time Emmy Award winning writer and comic Bruce Vilanch, and featured the innovative work of: Keigwin + Company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Armitage Gone! Dance, Danny Tidwell, Jodi Melnick, Feliciano Dance Company, ZviDance and Christopher Huggins. Continuing the tradition started in 2006, DRA offered Choreographic Sponsorships to foster the creation of new dance works, an effort that yielded five premier pieces created especially for this year’s Festival.
Since its inception in 1995, The Fire Island Dance Festival has raised a total of $1,950,000 for Dancers Responding to AIDS a fundraising program of Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS.
Watch Kamilah Shah - winner of DRA Rising Star Dance Competition - perform at FIDF15 :
For more information on Dancers Responding to AIDS or Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS programs and events, visit the web at www.dradance.org and www.broadwaycares.org ..
