Tituss Burgess to Host 2016 Fire Island Dance Festival

This year's Fire Island Dance Festival, one of the most talked about cultural and charitable events of the Fire Island summer, will return to dazzle, excite and captivate audiences on July 15-17, 2016. It will be hosted by Broadway and TV favorite Tituss Burgess.

An acclaimed singer, songwriter and actor, Burgess currently stars in the hit comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as Titus Andromedon, a role for which he received an Emmy Award nomination in 2015. A veteran of Broadway known for his high tenor voice, Burgess drew raves as Sebastian the Crab in The Little Mermaid, a role he will reprise at the Hollywood Bowl live musical event this summer. He's appeared on Broadway in Good Vibrations, Jersey Boys and Guys and Dolls, and has headlined major symphonies and top cabaret venues throughout the world.

Starting this Memorial Day weekend, tickets for Fire Island Dance Festival (#fidance) will be on sale in the Fire Island Pines Harbor on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am - 1 pm and at Island Breeze in Cherry Grove from 11 am - 1 pm on May 28, June 4 and June 11. Tickets also are available atdradance.org or by phone at 212.840.0770, ext. 229.

Produced by and benefiting Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Fire Island Dance Festival is a unique occasion where audiences and dancers come together to make a difference. Last year's festival raised a record-breaking $544,555. Since its first installment in 1995, the event has raised more than $4.3 million, helping ensure that those in need throughout the New York area and in all 50 states receive lifesaving medications and health care, nutritious meals, counseling and emergency financial assistance.

The 22nd annual Fire Island Dance Festival will once again present three eclectic performances outdoors against the picturesque backdrop of the Great South Bay in Fire Island Pines. This year's exciting lineup includes Ballet Contemporaneo de Camaguey Cuba's first performance outside of Cuba, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Gallim Dance, KEIGWIN + COMPANY, Glenn Allen Sims and Linda Celeste Sims of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Madboots Dance and choreography by festival favorite Al Blackstone.

Dorrance Dance, an energetic tap company founded by MacArthur Fellow Michelle Dorrance, will headline the Friday night Leadership Event for Leadership Supporters.

The dance magic follows throughout the weekend with three Fire Island Dance Festival performances: the opening performance on Saturday, July 16, at 5 pm; the sunset performance on Saturday, July 16, at 7 pm; and the closing performance on Sunday, July 17 at 5 pm.

Fire Island Dance Festival is generously sponsored by The New York Times, United Airlines, DIRECTV, Movmnt Magazine, Sayville Ferry and Tony's Barge, Inc.

Dancers Responding to AIDS relies on the extraordinary compassion and efforts of the performing arts community to fund a safety net of social services for those in need. As a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, DRA supports the essential programs of The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative and The Dancers' Resource, as well as more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide.