Dancers Salute Gower Champion in March 31 Panels

On March 31, the dancers and the creative talents associated with Director/Choreographer Gower Champion will be represented on the stage of the St. Luke's Theater at 308 West 46th Street at 7:30PM - represented from 1951's Make a Wish to his last Broadway show and the smash 42nd Street in 1980.

Two panels will be presented, the first with dancers Lee Roy Reams (Hello, Dolly!, 42nd Street), Bob Fitch (Sugar), Iva Withers (Make a Wish and The Happy Time), Ed Kressley (Bye, Bye, Birdie), Lars Rosager (42nd Street), and Johnny Nola (Carnival).  The second, the creative panel, will include dancer and Gower dance partner Marge Champion, Karin Baker (42nd Street), Gene Bayliss (Make a Wish, Carnival!, Bye, Bye, Birdie), Nicole Barth (Carnival!, Hello, Dolly! The Happy Time, Sugar), and Tony Stevens (Irene and Rockabye, Hamlet).  The panels will be moderated by David Hartman, host of Thirteen/WNET's popular "Walking Tours" series who was featured in the original Hello, Dolly! as Rudolph the waiter.  There will be performances from Bye, Bye, Birdie, Carnival! and 42nd Street, and time to mix and mingle with the dancers and an opportunity to support DO40 with a Raffle and door prizes.

The evening will be filmed and donated to the Jerome Robbins Dance Collection at the New York Public Library at Lincoln Center.  Tickets are $5.00 for DO40 members, $15 for non-members.  RSVP on the DO40 hotline, 212-330-7016 or online at www.dancersover40.org. DO40's Spring Party in May will celebrate the life of legendary dancer and choreographer Jack Cole, and feature documentary filmmaker and DO40 member Annette Macdonald and DO40 member and Cole biographer Svetlana Grody.

Dancers Over 40 was founded in 1994 by a group of Broadway dancers who were concerned about their ability to continue to live and work in a creative environment.  DO40 publishes a newsletter and website, as well as producing social events and panel discussions that focus on topics important to the mature dancer - and to the next generation of Dancers Over 40.