Junior Society of Ballet Hispanico to Present DANCE INTO FASHION, 5/8

Ballet Hispanico, recognized as the nation's leading Latino dance organization since 1970, will host its annual Junior Society benefit, Dance Into Fashion, at The Jane Ballroom on Thursday, May 8, 2014 at 8pm. The evening will showcase the creations of Venezuelan-born fashion designer Angel Sanchez as modeled by Ballet Hispanico company dancers in a unique presentation choreographed by Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro. Mr. Sanchez's collaboration with Ballet Hispanico includes the design of original costumes for a new choreographic work premiering at the Company's New York Season at the Joyce Theater on April 15-27, 2014.

The Junior Society benefit will feature an open bar sponsored by Diageo, an exclusive silent auction hosted online at charitybuzz.com, and music by DJ Jonny Famous. Notable guests will include Angel Sanchez, Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Grace Gummer, Hannah Bronfman, Jessie Betts, Alessandra Codina, Carolyna De Laurentiis, Julia Dimon, Sophie Elgort, Jesse Della Femina, Claire Distenfeld, Wes Gordon, Molly Howard, Samantha Perelman and Timo Weiland.

Dance Into Fashion is headed by Junior Society Co-Chairs Paul Arnhold and Janna Raskopf, along with the Ballet Hispanico Junior Society Steering Committee and Benefit Committee. All proceeds benefit Ballet Hispanico's community arts education programs, which provide 1,500 NYC public school children per year with learning experiences that respect their individuality while enhancing their creativity, physical health, and cultural awareness.

Attire is festive cocktail. Tickets begin at $100 and are available at http://www.ballethispanico.org/support/junior-society. For more information about the event, to purchase a table, or to donate an item to the silent auction, please contact Emma Epstein, Events Manager, at (212) 362-6710 x43 or eepstein@ballethispanico.org. The Jane Ballroom is located at 113 Jane Street, NYC.

Angel Sanchez developed an appreciation for fashion at a young age surrounded by dress forms and fabrics in his mother's Venezuelan atelier. His first love was architecture, which he studied and practiced professionally for many years, but he soon found himself drawn back to his mother's work. Armed with the knowledge of form and structure from his architectural work, Sanchez founded his fashion house and quickly rose to fame throughout Latin America, and expanded internationally when the company headquartered in New York City. Today, Angel is renowned worldwide for evening wear designs as well as an acclaimed bridal line and is a proud member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Devotees include Salma Hayek, Taylor Swift, Giselle Bundchen, Beyonce, Iman, Eva Longoria, Sandra Bullock, Brooke Shields, and Elizabeth Hurley.