Kulish, LaFosse & Richards Join Benanti, Marshall and More for 'America Dances!' Celebration, 11/2

Rolex presents "AMERICA DANCES! Celebrating Our Sparkling Heritage - Broadway, TV & Film"- Career Transition For Dancers' 24th Anniversary Jubilee on Monday, November 2, 2009 at 7:00 pm at New York City Center. Patrick Swayze (1952 - 2009) will be honored posthumously with the 2009 Rolex Dance Award. The Career Transition For Dancers' Awards for Outstanding Contributions to the World of Dance will be given to Lawrence Herbert and the Lloyd E. Rigler - Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation. The show will be followed by an "Anniversary Supper with the Stars" at The Grand Ballroom at The Hilton New York.

"AMERICA DANCES! Celebrating Our Sparkling Heritage - Broadway, TV & Film" showcases a variety of entertainment that defines our American culture-Past, Present and Future. This eclectic evening is an assimilation and fusion of styles that move from theater to concert dance, to television and film, in a vibrant homage to an array of dance genres. Some of the talent for the show will include: Ashley Bouder & Andrew Veyette from New York City Ballet, Laura Benanti, Bob Fosse's Dancin', Bullettrun, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, "Dancing with the Stars," Jacques d'Amboise, Decadancetheatre, Electric Boogaloo's Mr. Wiggles, Nicole Fosse, Stephen Hanna (older ‘Billy' from "Billy Elliot"), Valerie Harper, Kiril Kulish (this year'sTony Award winning actor "Billy Elliot"), Robert LaFosse, Lombard Twins, Lori Belilove & The Isadora Duncan Dance Company, Kathleen Marshall, Metropolitan Opera's Samuel Ramey, Desmond Richardson, John Selya, "So You Think You Can Dance," Sophisticated Ladies - Tribute to Duke Ellington, Jock Soto, "Step UP 3", The Street Beats Group, Tap City Youth Ensemble, and Sonya Tayeh Dance with other surprises. Jim Morgan is the musical director / conductor for The Jubilee Musicians. It is produced & directed by Ann Marie DeAngelo.

A film montage, "America Dances" will open the program. The dancers from New York City Ballet will perform the "Stars and Stripes" Pas de Deux by George Balanchine. Isadora Duncan's "Dance of the Furies" will be presented. The Lombard Twins will perform their interpretations to the music of Astor Piazzolla. A "Tribute to Duke Ellington" has been choreographed by Mercedes Ellington (his granddaughter). John Selya and Nicole Graniero will perform to the Richard Rodgers classic "If I Loved You", choreographed by Ann Marie DeAngelo. Nicole Fosse will introduce some segments from her father's acclaimed award winning show Bob Fosse's Dancin'. This section will feature some former Fosse dancers as well as others, recreating some of the patriotic highlights from this unforgettable musical.

The Jubilee Chair is Michele Herbert and the 24th Anniversary Chairs are Anka K. Palitz and Allen Brill. Gala Chairs are: Victor Elmaleh, Michele Riggi, James D. Rigler, Susan Fawcett Sosin, and Lisa Niemi Swayze. The Dinner Chair is Janice Becker; Auction Chairs are Ann Van Ness & Heléne Alexopoulos Warrick; West Coast Chair is Roberta Silbert; Journal Chairs are Richard A. Perdue and Thomas Porter. Vice Chairs are Gayle Conran, Alexander J. Dubé, Mercedes Ellington, Niko Elmaleh, Christina Rose, and Irene Shen. The Honorary Chairs are Cynthia Gregory, Angela Lansbury, Donna McKechnie, Sono Osato, Ann Reinking, Chita Rivera, and Tommy Tune.

Career Transition For Dancers with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago has helped over 4,300 professional dancers identify their unique talents in preparation for establishing new careers when dance is no longer an option. Since its founding in 1985, the organization has provided more than 43,000 hours (equivalent to over $4 million) of one-on-one career counseling and program services - at no cost - and has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships for education and entrepreneurial grants. CTFD also provides dancers with specialized services that include transition seminars and workshops, peer support groups, resource centers, a toll-free national career counseling hotline, a website, and a National Career Network. www.careertransition.org

Gala tickets are $600, $750 & $1,200 each, which include the performance and a post-performance "Anniversary Supper with the Stars", live auction and dancing at The Grand Ballroom at The Hilton New York (1335 Avenue of the Americas @ 54th St). Sponsorships and tables are also available as well as Jubilee Journal ads. For gala tickets please call Marjorie Horne, McEvoy & Assocs. at 212 228-7446 x33 and for Group Sales please call 718 499-9691. Show only tickets are $130, $75, $55, and $45 at the Box Office, through CityTix 212 581-1212, and at www.nycitycenter.org.

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski