Photo Flash: Dance Against Cancer Raises Over $200,000 for the American Cancer Society

Dance Against Cancer raised more than $200,000 for the American Cancer Society on Monday, May 5, 2014. Proceeds from the evening will benefit research initiatives and patient and family service programs. More than 500 guests attended the fourth annual Dance Against Cancer. VIP guests enjoyed cocktails, preferred seating, and a gift bag in addition to the performance and post-event reception. The performance featured new work by Brian Reeder created for American Ballet Theatre's Isabella Boylston with New York City Ballet's Chase Finlay and Amar Ramasar, Paul Taylor Dance Company in its first appearance at the benefit, Charles "Lil Buck" Riley performed with students from National Dance Institute, and included the NYC premiere of Justin Peck's Sea Change. Scroll down for photos from the performances!

Key Attendees included presenting sponsors Jody and John Arnhold, Joseph and Diana DiMenna, Gerald Appelstein, Michelle and Timothy Barakett, as well as DAC Committee members Stuart Coleman, Robert Schulman, Phil Livingston, Joseph P. Doherty, Nikki Feirt Atkins, Maria Kowroski, Erin Fogarty, Daniel Ulbricht, Lynne Goldberg, Dan Bittner, Sarah Goocher, Karen Lacy, and Chloe Lipman.

Other attendees included: Christopher Abbott; Donya Bommer; Katherine Brown; Barbara Brandt; Susan & Jeffrey Campbell; Valentino D. Carlotti; Masazumi Chaya; Arlene Cooper; Julia Gruen; Judith M. Hoffman; Judith Jamison; Alastair Macaulay; Justin Peck; Alexei Ratmansky; Renee Robinson; Jock Soto; Linda Stocknoff & Morrie Sandler; John Tomlinson; Carmen Marc Valvo; Linda & Stephen Waterhouse; Celia Weston; Christopher Wheeldon; and Isiah Whitlock, Jr.

Patron Tequila, GUS Grown-up Soda, Brooklyn Brewery, Wolffer Estate Vineyard, Cabot Cheese, Beecher's Cheese, Foodmatch, Inc., Hearth Restaurant, Vitae, Mitchel London Catering, Fairway, Vinitaly International served as food and beverage sponsors.

The evening's performance, produced by New York City Ballet's Daniel Ulbricht and Manhattan Youth Ballet's Erin Fogarty, featured New York City Ballet's Jared Angle, Tyler Angle, Robert Fairchild, Chase Finlay, Lauren King, Maria Kowroski, Tiler Peck, Amar Ramasar, Taylor Stanley and Daniel Ulbricht; American Ballet Theatre's Isabella Boylston, Herman Cornejo, Jared Mathews, Gillian Murphy and James Whiteside; Alvin Ailey's Matthew Rushing, Boston Ballet's Misa Kuranaga, Miami City Ballet's Patricia Delgado; as well as Lar Lubovitch's Clifton Brown, members of the Broadway community and Memphis Jookin' sensation, Charles "Lil Buck Riley." This year also showcased young dancers from Jacques D'Amboise's National Dance Institute.

Work by choreographers George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Christopher Wheeldon, Justin Peck, Frederick Earl Mosley, Brian Reeder, Greg Graham and others was also featured.

Repertory included:

In Memory Of (excerpt)

Music: "Feet Can't Fail Me Fail Me Now" by Dirty Dozen Brass Band and "Emafini" by Lady Smith Black Mambozo

Choreography: Tracy Straus

Improv by Charles "Lil Buck" Riley

Dancers: Lil Buck, students of the National Dance Institute

Gala Presentation Conceived and Staged by Damian Woetzel

Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux

Music: Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky

Choreographer: George Balanchine

Dancers: Misa Kuranaga (Boston Ballet Principal), James Whiteside (formerly of Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre Principal)

Dedications (excerpt)

Music: Various Artists

Choreographer: Frederick Earl Mosley

Dancer: Clifton Brown (Lar Lubovitch Dance Company/Jessica Lang Dance)

Sea Change (NYC Premiere)

Music: Franz Schubert, Piano Sonata no. 20 in A major, Andantino movement

Choreographer: Justin Peck

Piano: Cameron Grant

Dancers: Patricia Delgado (Miami City Ballet Principal), Lauren King, Jared Angle (New York City Ballet), Taylor Stanley (New York City Ballet)

Vertigogo Party (World Premiere)

Music: Combustible Edison

Choreographer: Greg Graham

Dancers: Ali Solomon, Gabriella Perez, Heather Parcells, Sarah Staker, Jordan Fife, Hunt Tyler Stickel, Jess LeProtto

Acheron (excerpt)

Music: Francis Poulenc

Choreographer: Liam Scarlett

Dancers: Tiler Peck and Robert Fairchild (New York City Ballet)

New Solo (World Premiere)

Choreographer: Kirven Douthit-Boyd

Dancer: Matthew Rushing (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater)

Pas de Deux from Chaconne

Music: Christoph Willibald Gluck

Choreographer: George Balanchine

Dancers: Maria Kowroski and Tyler Angle (New York City Ballet)

Les Lutins (excerpt)

Music: Antonio Bazzini

Choreographer: Johann Kobborg

Dancers: Herman Cornejo (American Ballet Theatre), Daniel Ulbricht (New York City Ballet)

With Whom You Would (World Premiere)

Music: Frederic Chopin

Choreographer: Brian Reeder

Piano: Craig Baldwin

Dancers: Isabella Boylston (American Ballet Theatre), Chase Finlay (New York City Ballet), Amar Ramasar (New York City Ballet)

Men's Quartet from Cloven Kingdom

Music: Malloy Miller

Choreography: Paul Taylor

Lighting: Jennifer Tipton

Dancers: Michael Trusnovec, Robert Kleinendorst, James Samson, Sean Mahoney

Ain't No Sunshine

Music: Bill Withers

Choreography by Larry Keigwin

Vocals: Josh Thew; Guitar: Harrison Coll; Ukulele: Peter Walker

Dancer: Daniel Ulbricht (New York City Ballet) accompanied by dancers from New York City Ballet

"Simply Irresistible" from the musical, Contact

Music: Robert Palmer

Choreographer: Susan Stroman

Dancers: American Dance Machine for the 21st Centrury, including: Naomi Kakuk, Michael Wiley, Fletcher McTaggart, Peter Gregus, Lauren Kadel, Mayumi Miguel, Ariel Shepley, Sarrah Strimel, Matt Baker, Gabriel Croom, Stephen Hanna, Noah Aberlin, Steve Geary, Tera-Lee Pollin, Sean Ewing, Matthew Steffans

Don Quixote Pas de Deux

Music: Ludwig Minkus

Choreographer: Marius Petipa

Dancers: Gillian Murphy and Jared Matthews (American Ballet Theatre)

After the Rain

Music: Arvo Part

Piano: Cameron Grant; Violin: Arturo Delmoni

Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon

Dancer: TBD (New York City Ballet)

Dance Against Cancer: Co-producers and longtime friends Erin Fogarty and Daniel Ulbricht conceived Dance Against Cancer in 2010. Both Ms. Fogarty and Mr. Ulbricht have close ties to the cause. Ms. Fogarty lost her father in 2011 after a seven-year battle with colon cancer in and Mr. Ulbricht's mother is currently battling uterine cancer. With so many of their close friends and family sharing stories of their own relation to the disease, the desire to do something grew into what is now a gala benefit for the incredible work that the American Cancer Society does through research initiatives as well as patient and family service programs. The benefit brings together artists from leading dance companies from New York City and beyond for a night of beautiful performances, world premieres and great company. Since its inauguration, Dance Against Cancer has raised over $325,000 in support of the American Cancer Society.

About The American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation's largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night at 1.800.227.2345 or visit cancer.org.

Photo Credit: Christopher Duggan