Block, Etc. Set for Free Times Square Dance Concert, 6/24

The Times Square Alliance and Dancers Responding to AIDS will celebrate the arrival of Summer with "Dancing at the Crossroads," a free dance concert with over 30 dance companies, on Sunday, June 24, from 4:30pm to dusk. The concert will take place in Times Square at Military Island (intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets).

Hundreds of professional dancers will participate with styles ranging from classic and contemporary ballet, to hip hop, jazz, modern and tap.

Emceeing the event throughout the day, in addition to performing, will be some of Broadway and dance's most accomplished stars, including Kate Shindle (starring in Legally Blonde), Stephanie J. Block (the title character in The Pirate Queen), Orion Duckstein (dancer, Paul Taylor Dance Company) and Rob Kleinendorst (dancer, Paul Taylor Dance Company). Also emceeing are Denis Jones (Associate Choreographer, Legally Blonde), Judine Somerville (featured in Hairspray) and Karine Plantadit (Movin' Out).

Among the acclaimed New York-based dance companies and Broadway companies participating in this 3 - 4 hour free performance are:

* Amy Hall
* Angel Feliciano Movement Theatre
* Art of Dance
* Aszure Barton
* AxisDanz
* Ayodele Casele
* Battleworks Dance Company
* Chase Brock Experience
* CorbinDances
* C.Eule Dance
* Dance China NY
* Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company
* Dance Times Square
* Elisa Monte Dance
* Francesca Harper Project
* Hartford City Ballet
* Jennifer Muller/The Works
* Keigwin + Company
* Limón Dance Company
* Miss Dance of the United States
* Paul Taylor Dance Company
* Performing Arts Center of Connecticut
* Rhapsody-The Group
* Ron Todorowski
* Sara Joel
* The cast of Broadway's The Lion King
* The cast of Broadway's The Pirate Queen
* Thomas/Ortiz Dance
* Timothy Bish
* The United States Dance Team
* Wes Veldink Movement

This is part of the Times Square Alliance's Summer Solstice celebration which will begin on Thursday, June 21, the date of the actual summer solstice, with "Solstice in Times Square," a dawn-'till-dusk celebration of the year's longest day, featuring a free yoga-fest and all-day music and street entertainment.

The Times Square Alliance, founded in 1992, works to improve and promote Times Square. In addition to providing safety and sanitation services, the Alliance coordinates many major events in Times Square including New Year's Eve, manages an Information Center and advocates on behalf of its constituents with respect to a host of public policy, planning and quality-of-life issues. For more information, log onto  www.timessquarenyc.org.

Dancers Responding to AIDS is a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the nation's leading industry-based AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization. The funds raised are distributed to seven programs of The Actors' Fund of America (www.actorsfund.org) and as grants to over 400 AIDS and Family service organizations across the United States. Since its founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $130 million for critically needed services for people with HIV/AIDS. For more information, visit www.dradance.org.

Photo of Stephanie J. Block by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.