Career Transition for Dancers' Starry 30th PEARL JUBILEE, Honoring Shirley MacLaine, Set for Tonight

ROLEX presents Career Transition For Dancers' 30TH ANNIVERSARY PEARL JUBILEE: A STAR-STUDDED RETROSPECTIVE tonight, September 28, at 7:00 pm in association with the Lloyd E. Rigler - Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation, at New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (btwn. 6 & 7 Aves) NYC followed by "Supper With The Stars" in the Grand Ballroom at the Hilton New York.

The 30TH ANNIVERSARY PEARL JUBILEE is A Gala Celebration of Career Transition For Dancers' 30 YEARS CHANGING LIVES with one hundred fifty on stage: The opening* will be a huge production number written by Ann Marie DeAngelo and Kathleen Fitzgerald. It will include scores of dancers and musicians, some original music and the Jubilee Orchestra and will feature: Thomas and Peter Campbell; dancers from American Repertory Ballet and Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater; Jason Samuels Smith; Sue Samuels with her Jazz Roots Dance Company; Ephrat Asherie Dance Company and National Dance Institute.

Misty Copeland, an American Ballet Theatre principal ballerina and one of the stars in Broadway's "On The Town", will perform 'Paganini' a solo created by ABT star Marcelo Gomes. Misty will be performing with violinist Charles Yang. Misty has recently been featured in television, numerous newspapers and magazines and has a new film "A Ballerina's Tale."

Robert Fairchild, a New York City Ballet principal and the award-winning star of "An American In Paris" will perform "A Tribute To Gene Kelly." This year he won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor In A Musical, a Theatre World Award and an Astaire Award, and was a Tony Award Nominee.

The variety retrospective will also feature performances* by "All That Jazz" from CHICAGO with Bebe Neuwirth; artists from American Ballet Theatre; Arthur Murray Dance Center, Columbus Circle; Big Apple Circus; Noah Racey and New York Song & Dance Company; Parsons Dance; and others. This entertainment event of the season will celebrate ROLEX's distinguished past Rolex Dance Award recipients, and honor the legacy of dance, dancers and the mission of the organization.

The 2015 Rolex Dance Award recipient is Shirley MacLaine. "Regardless of what I have done, seen, and enjoyed; I think of myself as a DANCER. It is the essence of my work ethic, my values, and my balance in life. I am honored to receive this recognition and to be among my fellow dancers again, as well as the princes of time...ROLEX. Thank You" stated Shirley MacLaine. The Career Transition For Dancers Outstanding Contributions to the World of Dance Awards recipients are: Andrew Faas-Faas Foundation; Irene & Fred Shen and Misty Widelitz. The CTFD 30th Anniversary Pearl Jubilee Award Honoree will be Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc.

Presenters for the Gala include: Michael Douglas, Cynthia Gregory, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Career Transition For Dancers, founded in 1985, enables dancers to define their career possibilities and develop skills necessary to excel in post-performance professions. With of­fices in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and a mobile National Outreach Project, Career Transition For Dancers has provided more than 6,400 dancers with over 62,000 hours-equivalent to approximately $8 million-of career counseling and program services, and has awarded millions of dollars in educational scholarships and entrepreneurial grants. The organization has helped thousands of dancers throughout the US take their first steps towards discovering reward­ing post-performance careers. The Caroline & Theodore Newhouse Center for Dancers is located at 165 W 46 Street, Suite 701 (at Broadway - the Actors' Equity Building) NYC 10036. The phone number is 212 764-0172 and the fax is 212 764-0343. In Los Angeles 5757 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 455, LA 90036; 323 549-6660 and fax 323 549-6810. In Chicago at Hubbard Street Dance Center 1147 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607; 312 666-0234 and fax 312 455-8240. To learn more about the organization and interact with the various services it provides online, please visit www.career­transition.org.

Patron tickets are $750 and $1,500 each. Tables for 10 start at $7,500. For gala information and tickets please call Marjorie Horne, McEvoy & Assocs. at 212-228-7446 x33. For group sales call Susan Levy at718 499-9691. Performance-only tickets are $45, $60, $90 and $150 and can be purchased at the City Center Box Office, or by contacting CITYTIX at 212 581-1212 or on the web at nycitycenter.org.

Photo Credit: Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging