American Repertory Ballet to Host Annual Gala, 3/5

American Repertory Ballet is pleased to announce that it will host its annual Gala performance and reception, Focus Forward: Celebrating 30 Years of Dance Power, on Saturday, March 5, 2016, in downtown New Brunswick, N.J. The performance will begin at 6:00 p.m. at Crossroads Theater with the Waiting in the Wings performance by Dance Power students, and the reception will begin at 7:00 p.m. across the street at the Heldrich Hotel.

This year, the annual gala celebrates the work of Penelope E. Lattimer, Ph.D. for her guidance and support in establishing DANCE POWER; the New Brunswick Board of Education for its continued support of Dance Power over the last 30 years; Christopher Paladino and Erin Dolan for their outstanding leadership in the arts community; and Mary Barton, the recipient of the 2016 Audrée Estey Award for Excellence in Dance Education.

American Repertory Ballet's annual gala celebrates and showcases the three branches of the organization: American Repertory Ballet, New Jersey's preeminent ballet company; its official school, Princeton Ballet School, one of the largest non-profit dance schools in the country; and ARB's Access & Enrichment programming.

The event is being coordinated by Homemade by Marianne. The reception will include a gourmet dinner, dancing to the music of The Kenny i Orchestra, silent auction and more. Princeton Ballet School students ages 12-18 years can enjoy a Junior Gala with dinner, dancing and a silent auction, also at the Heldrich Hotel.

"I am very excited to work with American Repertory Ballet on their Annual Gala," says Marianne Cyran, owner of Homemade by Marianne, the event's planner. "I support ARB's mission, the role they play throughout New Jersey and the work they do in the various communities they serve. The Gala is an important event for the organization and I am pleased to be able to be

part of their success." Homemade by Marianne Couture Cakes & NJ Party Queen Events is a full-service event planning company which also creates visually stunning cakes and desserts that are delicious works of art. With more than 20 years of experience, Homemade by Marianne offers clients personalized service with extreme attention to detail and can be reached for comment at (732) 855-CAKE.

DANCE POWER is the longest continuously running community/arts partnership in the state, serving more than 1,500 New Brunswick students each year. All 2nd and 3rd grade students receive DANCE POWER in their physical education class for 14 and 20 weeks respectively. At the 3rd grade culminating performance, Waiting in the Wings, over 40 scholarships are presented to students so they can continue dancing at our Princeton Ballet School from 4th grade through their senior year of high school for free.

Dance Power program facts:

• The program is designed to support cross-subject learning, and all five of New Jersey's Core Curriculum Content Standards for Dance are integrated into lesson plans. To date:

• More than 20,000 New Brunswick public school students have reaped the rewards of dance education through this acclaimed program since its inception in 1985.
• A collaboration with the New Brunswick Board of Education, it is the longest-running arts/community partnership in New Jersey.
• The curriculum for the program is updated regularly to meet and exceed the New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards for dance education.

American Repertory Ballet's mission is to bring the joy, beauty, artistry and discipline of classical and contemporary dance to New Jersey and beyond through artistic and educational programs, presented by a financially responsible organization.

For more information about American Repertory Ballet please visit: www.arballet.org

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