The Dance Enthusiast to Launch 'Enthusiastic Events!' Series, Beginning 11/12

The Dance Enthusiast, a NYC-based dance journalism website leading an exuberant revolution in dance communication, now celebrating its 7th year and more than 100,000 readers, launches a new event series. Through the generous support of the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, The Dance Enthusiast has created the series Enthusiastic Events! A cross between a salon performance and a gathering at your best friend's home, renowned dance artists and prime movers from diverse fields will meet their audience in an intimate setting. Each event is themed and will include live performances from premier artists in the NYC dance world, feature special guests and presenters who work outside of dance but are highly influenced by the artform, and is paired with a guest chef who will create a unique menu related to the theme.

"I've always felt there is a dance enthusiast in many of us just waiting to come out. One of the most important ways to reawaken that inner dance enthusiast is to get people talking to the artists -- not in a huge, formal proscenium theater -- but in a small setting, like a home. I want to bring people home to dance and its tremendous value to our culture," said Christine Jowers, Founder/Editor-in-Chief.

The Dance Enthusiast's inaugural Enthusiastic Event! happens on November 12, 2014 with the theme of Fashion and Dance; featuring the world-renowned Martha Graham Dance Company and their Artistic Director Janet Eilber, popular dance costume designer Reid Bartelme, and special guest, Valerie Steele, fashion historian, curator, and director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. The cuisine of Chef Rodney Brown will be another highlight of this stylish evening. Doors open at 6:15 PM for food, drinks, and socializing. The performance and conversation will begin at 7 PM and will be followed with a second course of food and mingling. Enthusiastic Events! is thrilled to be presenting at one of NYC's leading dance venues, Gibney Dance- 280 Broadway (entrance at 53 Chambers St). Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at www.dance-enthusiast.com.

This series of events was created to introduce people who appreciate culture and a creative lifestyle to a deeper appreciation of dance. In a uniquely private setting with opportunities to socialize with the artists and fellow culture enthusiasts, people can begin to build or expand (over gourmet hors d'oeuvres and drink) their personal connection to this often abstract, ephemeral art form. One of THE DANCE ENTHUSIAST'S goals is to cultivate audiences for dance by offering them insider experiences with top NYC-dance artists. Dance audience cultivation is a major concern within the arts community, and Enthusiastic Events!, by sharing a multitude of views on the art through presentation and conversation with dancers, special guests, and audience members offers a terrific way generate enthusiasm for the field at large.

Last season, thanks to the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Dance Enthusiast launched a new video series called "Dance Up Close" as part of the national initiative by Dance/USA called Engaging Dance Audiences, a behind the scenes peek from rehearsal with interviews from leading choreographers and companies such as, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, and Kyle Abraham's ABRAHAM.IN.MOTION.