From its debut In 1995 as a yearly fundraising and cultural event, the Fire Island Dance Festival has raised over $1.7 million in the fight against AIDS.
To continue the spirit of innovation, Fire Island Dance Festival Fifteen, will feature six world premiere dances from Armitage Gone! Dance, Danny Tidwell, Jodi Melnick, Feliciano Dance Company, ZviDance and a piece d'occasion by choreographer Christopher Huggins.
Since 2006, Dancers Responding to AIDS has fostered the creation of world premier dances for the Festival by brokering relationships between patrons and artists to establish choreographic sponsorships for new dance works. Masterbeat.com, Continental Airlines, Karl Kemp, Chris Fraley and Victor Self are the Festival's Choreographic Sponsors for 2009. In its four year history, the choreographic sponsorship program has brought thirty world premiere dances created especially for the Fire Island Dance Festival.
Festival performances and parties take place at 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM on Saturday July 18th and 5:00 PM on Sunday July 19th on a spectacular private deck at the home of Jon Biondo and Tim Horman against a backdrop of the sun setting over the Great South Bay.
The Festival unofficially starts with a private gala party on Friday July 17th for Leadership Supporters. The party will take place on the Albert Lepage Pavillion at Whyte Hall, Fire Island Pines' newly inaugurated $3.2 million FIPPOA community center. Other Festival related events include a VIP cocktail party during the Festival weekend, company brunches, a special brunch prior to the Sunday performance, a reception and private screening of the Sony Pictures Classics film "Every Little Step" and the inaugural "Masterbeat in the Pines" dance party featuring DJ Brett Hendrickson and International recording artist Kristine W.
