ROLEX presented NEW YORK NEW YORK a helluva town -- Career Transition For Dancers' 29th Anniversary Jubilee on Monday, October 6th, 2014 at New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (btwn. 6th & 7th Aves.), NYC followed by dinner at The Grand Ballroom at The Hilton New York. Angela Lansbury received the 2014 Rolex Dance Award. James Earl Jones, Ms. Lansbury's Driving Miss Daisy co-star, presented her with the award. The 2014 Career Transition For Dancers Outstanding Contributions to the World of Dance Awards honorees went to Janice Galli Becker, Fe Saracino Fendi, and Joe Tremaine & Tremaine Dance Conventions & Competitions. Scroll down for photos of the performances and starry attendees!
From Broadway to the Battery, NEW YORK NEW YORK a helluva town took the elegantly be-gowned & black-tied crowd on a rockin' ride through the most inimitable, iconic entertainment capital of the world - a mecca for arts and culture. The show once again produced and directed by Ann Marie DeAngelo was a 90 minute non-stop, high kickin', electrifying evening that left the audience breathless.
Special guests included Paula Abdul, Chita Rivera, Chuck Scarborough, legendary prima Ballerina & CTFD Chairman Emerita Cynthia Gregory with breathtaking and sexy performances by artists from: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; American Ballet Theatre; Arthur Murray Dance Center, Columbus Circle; Ballet Hispanico; Jonah Bokaer; Dance Theatre of Harlem; Industrial Rhythm; Silva Dance Company; and Tony Waag's American Tap Dance Foundation. The Rockette Alumnae and Karen Ziemba's performance of "I Want To Be A Rockette" was just one of the many numbers to draw a standing ovation. Broadway choreographer Alex Sanchez also created a special number with music composed by Steven Jamail, Music Director & Supervisor for Rosie O'Donnell and her Rosie's Theater Kids. Ballet Hispanico wins the prize for the most sensual performance of the night -- which they continued at the after party at the Hilton!
Ms. Abdul gave a lovely shout out to her first teacher Honoree Joe Tremaine before introducing her new protégé Michael Dameski. Only 18, Dameski, one of the most versatile and sought after young performers, made his musical theatre debut in "Billy Elliot" in Australia; later performing the lead on Broadway and then for the US National Tour. In Australia on 'So You Think You Can Dance', he was the 'Winner of SYTYCD Australia 2014'. He was a recent guest performer on FOX's 'So You Think You Can Dance' US Finale. Dameski brought down the house with his super-charged, sensual and athletic solo.
Career Transition For Dancers, founded in 1985, enables dancers to define their career possibilities and develop skills necessary to excel in post-performance professions. With offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and a mobile National Outreach Project, Career Transition For Dancers has provided more than 6,200 dancers with over 61,000 hours -- equivalent to approximately $5.2 million -- of career counseling and program services, and has awarded millions of dollars in educational scholarships and entrepreneurial grants. The organization has helped thousands of dancers throughout the US take their first steps towards discovering rewarding post-performance careers. The Caroline & Theodore Newhouse Center for Dancers is located at 165 W 46 Street, Suite 701 (at Broadway - the Actors' Equity Building) NYC 10036. Career Transition For Dancers is a proud recipient of a 2013 Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre. To learn more about the organization and interact with the various services it provides online, visit www.careertransition.org.
Photo Credit: Annie Watt
Sold out NY City Center for Career Transition for Dancers 29th Jubilee
Tony Waag's American Tap Dance Foundation
Chuck Scarborough welcomes Chita Rivera
Dance Theater of Harlem performs Mother Popcorn from Return
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Kirven Douthit-Boyd
World Premiere of New York Church of Mambo choreographed by Alex Sanchez
American Ballet Theatre's Veronika Part and Blaine Hoven in the pas de deux from Seven Sonatas
The brilliant Michael Dameski
Karen Ziemba & The Rockettes Alumni in I want to be a Rockette
James Earl Jones presented Angela Lansbury with the ROLEX Dance Award
Samba by Silva Dance Company
To the strains of beating garbage cans, Industrial Rhythm brings down the house
Dustin Hubel and his floating hoops
Ballet Hispanico
Roberta Silbert and Lenny Lauren
Anka Palitz, Robert Bradford and Barbara Taylor Bradford
Honorees Angela Lansbury, Fe Saracino Fendi, Joe Tremaine, Janice Galli Becker
James Earl Jones, Angela Lansbury, Chita Rivera
Ann & Bill Van Ness
Michelle and Larry Herbert
Susan Gutfreund, Larry Kaiser
Lucia Hwong Gordon
Richard and Donna Soloway
Paula Abdul and Michael Dameski
Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba
Thomas and Patricia Shiah
Choreographer & director Joe Lanteri and Michael Cain
Prima ballerina Cynthia Gregory & Ann Marie DeAngelo, producer & director
Bonnie Evans and Michelle Herbert
The dance pros take the floor
Ballet Hispanico still dancing at the party
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