Angela Lansbury Named New Honorary Career Transition For Dancers Chairwoman

Career Transition For Dancers (Cynthia Fischer, President; Alexander J. Dubé, Executive Director) have announced that Angela Lansbury is the new Honorary Chairwoman. Also Board member, Anka K. Palitz is the Vice President of Fundraising and Judith Anderson is the Vice President of Programs.

New Board members are Gayle Conran (former client/dancer) and Ann Van Ness.

Angela Lansbury has enjoyed a career without precedent; spanning more than half-a-century, as a star of movies, a 5-time Tony Award-winning actress, and star of "Murder, She Wrote", the longest running detective drama series in television history. She has hosted (or co-hosted) more Tony Awards telecasts than any other individual. She is in the Theatre Hall of Fame; received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts; named a Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II; member of the TV Hall of Fame; recipient of a Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award. She has been nominated for 18 Emmy Awards. She has won 6 Golden Globe Awards and nominated for an additional 8. She was presented with the National Medal of the Arts and was a recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor. She is co-starring on Broadway this season in the musical "A Little Night Music".

Anka K. Palitz is a dedicated philanthropist and board member. She is an arts patron, who has served for many years on the boards of American Ballet Theatre and Career Transition For Dancers. She is chairwoman of the Palm Beach Committee for American Ballet Theatre. In 1991, she established an annual scholarship fund in honor of her late husband, Clarence Y. Palitz, to support the educational needs of dancers nationwide. Since 1994, she has been involved with CTFD and its galas. Her dedicated service and support has been recognized by numerous dance organizations, foundations and non-profits, including the ABT Lucia Chase Award and the CTFD Outstanding Contributions to the World of Dance Award in 2007.

Judith Anderson has served as CTFD's Vice-President since the incorporation of the organization. She developed the first National Networking Directory, initiated and organizes the annual between-shows dinner for working Broadway and Off-Broadway dancers. She was a member of the Executive Staff of Actors' Equity Association for more than 26 years where she was guardian of the Equity Council, keeper of policy and general facilitator. She is a member of the League of Professional Theatre Women, where she serves as Co-Chair of the Nominating Committee and is a member of Better Wellness and You (BWAY).

Gayle Conran is President of ConranPR. Now in its tenth year, it is one of the leading boutique PR firms dedicated to promoting luxury travel. She began her professional life with Milwaukee Ballet. As a member of Boston Ballet, she toured the U.S., Mexico and Europe with Rudolf Nureyev in his productions of Swan Lake, Giselle and Don Quixote. Gayle devotes time and revenue to Career Transition For Dancers and other charitable causes. Her employees are encouraged to name a charity of choice and are given paid time off to donate their skills. She is initiating a flexible internship program that gives dancers the opportunity to gain experience in a PR agency during their off time from performing.

Ann Van Ness has been involved in a lifelong effort to improve the quality of life of others through compassionate philanthropy. She has served for six years as Auction Chair for the annual CTFD Gala. She is also a Board member of the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens. She is on the Advisory Committee for Columbia School of Social Work and is a member of the Founders Society New York University. She is a Dame in the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller, and serves as Vice Commander of the New York Commandry and Priory Representative to the Petit Conseil of the Russian Priory of Malta.

Career Transition For Dancers, with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, has helped over 4,300 professional dancers identify their unique talents in preparation for establishing new careers when dance is no longer an option. Since its founding in 1985, the organization has provided more than 43,000 hours (equivalent to over $4 million) of one-on-one career counseling and program services - at no cost - and has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships for education, entrepreneurial grants, and certification programs. CTFD also provides dancers with specialized services that include transition seminars and workshops, peer support groups, resource centers, a toll-free national career counseling hotline, a website, and a National Career Network. www.careertransition.org

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski