Dance for Life Chicago Announces Lineup for DANCE DIVAS 2017 Kickoff Party

DANCE DIVAS, the kickoff party for Dance for Life Chicago 2017, is preparing to showcase a stellar lineup of dancers Tuesday, June 20 at 8 and 10 p.m. at the famed female impersonation nightclub the Baton Show Lounge.

Under the artistic direction of choreographers Harrison McEldowney and Jeremy Plummer, the glamorous night of "high heels and high camp" features Chicago's leading dance men portraying the world's leading female "dance divas" from film and stage. Tony Savino, who conceived the original show, will serve as Emcee.

The Divas include:

Katlin Michael Bourgeois, DanceWorks Chicago

Oscar Carrillo, formerly Hubbard Street 2

Fernando Duarte, Joffrey Ballet

Zachary Heller, Giordano Dance Chicago

Jason Hortin, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Ethan Kirschbaum, formerly River North Dance Chicago

Eddy O'Campo, artistic director of LEVELdance

Harrison McEldowney, formerly River North Dance Chicago

Jeremy Plummer, founder/artistic director of C5

Owen Scarlett, Visceral Dance Chicago

Isaac Stauffer, Chicago Tap Theatre

Ronn Stewart, artistic director of Foster Dance Company

Upon arrival, guests have an opportunity to "Bid on a Diva" for an audience member to receive a complete drag makeover during the show. The winning and newly "glammed-up" Diva will be featured on stage later in the evening.

DANCE DIVAS is the kickoff party for Dance for Life Chicago 2017, which takes place Saturday, August 19 at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. The program features Partner Dance Companies Giordano Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Joffrey Ballet, joined by a collaboration of Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater and Trinity Irish DanceCompany; Jessica Miller Tomlinson Choreography; and Visceral Dance Chicago. For tickets and information, visit chicagodancersunited.org/dance-for-life.

DANCE DIVAS takes place Tuesday, June 20 at 8 and 10 p.m. (doors open 45 minutes before showtime) at Baton Show Lounge, 436 N. Clark Street, Chicago. Admission is $50 and includes two free drinks, available at chicagodancersunited.org/divas.

Dance for Life Chicago is the annual benefit dance concert presenting and showcasing the city's unique diversity of talent, dance traditions and styles by bringing together talented, world-renowned professionaldancers from Chicago for one night on the same stage. The dance community unites artistically to support those affected by critical health and other life issues by generously donating their time, energy and artistry to the cause. During the past 25 years, Dance for Life Chicago has presented 33 Chicago-based, professional dance companies and numerous choreographers. Proceeds from Dance for Life Chicago support The Dancers' Fund, which provides assistance to members of the dance community coping with critical health and life issues, and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

Dance for Life Chicago uses the art of dance to make a difference in people's lives. In response to the changing needs of Chicago's dance community, evolutions in the nature of HIV/AIDS, the growth of the annual event and its other programs, Dance for Life Chicago has grown into a nonprofit organization,Chicago Dancers United (CDU). CDU engages Chicago's dance community to support organizations anddance community professionals dealing with critical health and other life issues causing significant financial, emergency or catastrophic hardships, including, but not limited to, HIV/AIDS, through dance.

Proceeds from Dance for Life Chicago benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and CDU's The Dancers' Fund, which began in response to the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the dance community. The fund now offers assistance in, but not limited to, housing, utilities, insurance, medication and travel. As a unified dance community in Chicago, CDU uses dance to support a stronger and healthier community by focusing on its health and well-being through The Dancers' Fund and Dance for Life Chicago.

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