BC/EFA Annual Report 2005 - Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

oadway cares/equity fights aids
Dancers
Responding to AIDS
(DRA)
dancers responding to aids is the american dance community’s ongoing response
to the health crisis, rallying the dance world to raise money for direct assistance to dance professionals living with HIV/AIDS, as
well as AIDS service organizations nationwide. These funds are distributed through The Actors’ Fund of America, and through
BC/EFA’s National Grants Program. The following are DRA’s signature events and programs during fiscal year 2005:
DANCE STUDENT OUTREACH PROJECT
The newly dubbed Dance Student Outreach Project (formerly Studio of the Year) encourages dance students across America to get
involved and fundraise for DRA. At DRA Dance Invitationals and Capezio-sponsored “Stars of Tomorrow… Giving Back Today”
performances, students raise money by selling tickets and performing with professional dance companies at spectacular venues.
DRA also has joined forces with New York City Dance Alliance and Tremaine Dance Conventions & Competitions to award top
fundraising students and studios a free trip to London or Los Angeles. Additional dance competition affiliates that raise funds for
DRA are Dance Masters of America and Dance Olympus.
DRA Outreach Dancers are individuals who raise funds for DRA in a number of creative ways, like Jessica Morgan from Miller
Place, NY, who raised $2,146 by organizing a DRA benefit, and nine-year-old Nyree Modisette from Gary, IN, who raised $141
selling pointe shoes cut out of construction paper.
FIRE ISLAND DANCE FESTIVAL 11
In July of 2005, the 11th Annual Fire Island Dance Festival brought in a record $170,000 for DRA and proved a critical success as well.
Hosted by BC/EFA Trustee Alan Cumming (Tony Award ® winner for Cabaret) and La Cage’s Michael Benjamin Washington as his
alter ego “Mahogany,” the festival included three shows, featuring 41 dancers from 13 companies, including Alvin Ailey American
Dance Theater, Momix, Mark Morris Dance Group and Stephen Petronio Company. More than 800 people attended the three
sold-out shows, which were hosted for the second consecutive year at Beau Clarke and Tony Moran’s home in the Fire Island Pines,
overlooking the Great South Bay. The weekend-long festival began on Friday, with a Brazilian-themed kickoff party underwritten
by William Hayden and Ron Perkov, and held at their bay-front home.
Cedar Lake performing Benoit-Swan Pouffer’s and those... at the Fire Island Dance Festival 11; Desmond Richardson in Dwight Rhoden’s Wonder-full; Gino Grenek
and Thang Dao in Stephen Petronio’s bud, Fire Island Dance Festival 11; cast members from the film Rent performing “Seasons of Love” in Broadway for Life! at Bryant Park
to a crowd of over 6,000 fans!
dancers responding to aids
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