Wendy Whelan and More Performers Join Hudson Valley Dance Festival Lineup

Ballet legend Wendy Whelanjoins a one-of-a-kind lineup of dance offering a remarkable range of styles at this year's Hudson Valley Dance Festivalon Saturday, October 6, 2018, in Catskill, NY. Also just added to the program are performances by modern dancers Annmaria Mazziniand Michael Trusnovec, The Washington Balletperforming a piece choreographed by famed ballet dancer Marcelo Gomes, as well as a Broadway number choreographed by Billy Griffin.

The festival, produced by and benefiting Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, returns for performances at 2 pm and 5 pm at Historic Catskill Point. This year's event features the world premieres of four pieces.

Tickets start at $40 and are on sale now at dradance.org or by calling 212.840.0770, ext. 229. Sponsorship opportunities start at $275. VIP tickets include a cocktail reception at Historic Catskill Point and a locally sourced dinner with the dancers.

Whelan, one of the preeminent American ballerinas, will perform a world premiere piece choreographed by BalletCollective artistic director Troy Schumacher. "I am personally so thrilled to share Troy's beautiful piece at this year's Hudson Valley Dance Festival," Whelan, who has a home in Hudson, NY, said. "To perform in the place that inspires and invigorates me while giving back to people in need within the Hudson Valley and beyond is such a special and unique opportunity."

Mazzini and Trusnovec will present internationally acclaimed choreographer Margie Gillis' touching Vers La Glace, a dark, atmospheric duet about an alienated romance. The Washington Balletwill share a pas de deux from The Outset, bringing Gomes' fluid, lyrical style to the music of Antonín Dvo?ák. Musical theatre choreographer Griffinwill share the world premiere of a duet set to the music of Peggy Lee. These works join a previously announced lineup of acclaimed dance companies and performers that includes:

Bryn Cohn + Artists sharing Skin, which investigates how identity is formed in response to gender, sexuality and politics.

Doug Varone and Dancers presenting the bold, dynamic excerpt "The Fast Quartet" from Possession, loosely based on images from the A.S. Byatt novel of the same name.

Paul Taylor Dance Company performing excerpts of Images, choreographed by the American master of modern dance, Paul Taylor, who passed away just last month.

Catskill-area choreographer Marcus McGregor sharing the premiere of Clouded Mirror, developed in association with the Petronio Residency Center in Round Top, NY, and performed by six emerging dancers from Greene County.

Choreographer Ray Mercer presenting the premiere of a piece exploring and celebrating the many facets of strength and vulnerability in women.

In its first five years, Hudson Valley Dance Festivalhas raised $606,694. The money raised helps Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Dancers Responding to AIDS provide grants to AIDS and family service organizations nationwide, including 12 based in the Hudson Valley: Albany Damien Center and Alliance for Positive Health in Albany, Animalkind, Columbia-Greene Community Foundation and Hudson Valley SPCA in Hudson, Matthew 25 Food Pantry and Community Hospice in Catskill, Hudson Valley Community Services in Hawthorne, Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center in Kingston, Roe Jan Food Pantry in Hillsdale, TOUCH (Together Our Unity Can Heal) in Congers and Troy Area United Ministries in Troy.

Hudson Valley Dance Festival is sponsored by The New York Times and United Airlines.

Dancers Responding to AIDSrelies on the extraordinary compassion and efforts of the performing arts community to fund a safety net of social services for those in need. As a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, DRA supports the essential programs of The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative and The Dancers' Resource, as well as more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC.