Parsons Dance Holds 2012 Annual Spring Gala Tonight

Parsons Dance and Gala Chair Linda Stocknoff's 2012 Annual spring Gala, Paint it Red, honoring Nancy Browne, Parsons Dance friend and co-commissioner of 2011 premiere work Portinari, will be held tonight, Monday, April 16, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at Espace, 635 W. 42^nd Street, NYC. The evening will begin with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and silent auction at 7:30 p.m., followed by a dinner, live auction, and performance by Parsons Dance at 8:30 p.m., then a full night of social dancing. Festive cocktail attire with a splash of red requested. Tickets begin at $700 and are available by calling 212-869-9275, by emailing sandy@parsonsdance.org, or online at www.parsonsdance.org/gala.

PARSONS DANCE GALA COMMITTEE 2012 - Chair: Linda Stocknoff

Co-Chairs: Froma Benerofe, Fiorenza Scholey Cohen, Kelly Ginsburg, Vickie Morris, Barbara Rohdie 

PARSONS DANCE HONORARY COMMITTEE 2012 includes Howell Binkley, Charles Chadwell, Ina Sorens Clark, Jason Fletcher, Stephanie French, Alan Ginsburg, William Ivey Long, Stephen B. Morris, Morris Sandler, Linda Shelton, Patsy Tarr, Chris Yegen.

Nancy is married to Charles (Chad) Chadwell and has been a supporter of Parsons Dance for almost 20 years.  In 2010, Nancy and Chad co-commissioned Portinari, a new duet by David Parsons,which was inspired by the highly acclaimed Brazilian painter, muralist and political activist, Candido Portinari. 

Portinari was co-commissioned by Nancy Browne, Charles Chadwell, and Jessica Yarmuth. Portinari is dedicated to the honor and memory of Richard Harriman, a mentor, nearly life-long friend and early supporter of David Parsons' work. Mr. Harriman was part of the artistic leadership of David's home community of Kansas City, Missouri. David Parsons' newest duet, Portinari was inspired by the Brazilian painter, muralist and political activist, Candido Portinari. Portinari created two 46-foot tall murals, titled "War" and "Peace" for the United Nations General Assembly Building. They were donated by the Brazilian government and first displayed at the UN in 1957. When delegates enter the building, they see "War." As they exit, they see "Peace." The murals took more than four years to complete. In 1962, Portinari died at the age of 58, of poisoning from the lead-based paints with which he worked. Portinari premiered at The Joyce Theater, NYC in January 2011.

Parsons Dance tours regionally, nationally and internationally. Since 1985, Parsons Dance has toured an average of 32 weeks per year, to a total more than 235 cities, 30 countries, and six continents. Many others have seen Parsons Dance on PBS, Bravo, A&E Network, and the Discovery Channel. Millions watched Parsons Dance perform live in Times Square as part of the internationally broadcast, 24-hour Millennium New Year's Eve celebration. In New York City, Parsons Dance has been featured at The Joyce Theater, City Center, New Victory Theater, Central Park Summerstage, Guggenheim Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art and The World Trade Center. For more information, visit parsonsdance.org.

Artistic Director, David Parsons, founded Parsons Dance in 1987 with lighting designer Howell Binkley. Since then, he has created more than 80 works for the company, through commissions from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, the American Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, New York City Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, the Spoleto Festival, and Het Muziektheater in Amsterdam, among others. His works have also been performed by BatSheva Dance Company of Israel, English National Ballet, Feld Ballets/NY, Hubbard Street Dance Company, Nederlands Dans Theatre, and Paris Opera Ballet, among many others. He choreographed and directed the dance elements for Times Square 2000, the 24-hour festivities in Times Square celebrating the turn of the Millennium, viewed live on television by billions of people all over the globe. 

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