Boston Dance Alliance Gala Will Honor Sports Medicine Leader, Dr. Lyle Micheli, and Youth Dance Pioneer, Jeanne Traxler

Dance medicine pioneer Dr. Lyle Micheli and noted early-childhood dance educator Jeanne Traxler will be honored at the Boston Dance Alliance (BDA) Gala on April 22, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at the Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown, Mass. Early Bird tickets to the celebration are available now!

Micheli, who serves as Director of the Division of Sports Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital, a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School, and founder of the Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, will be named BDA's 2018 Unsung Hero. Traxler, the Founder and Director of the Brookline-based Peanut Butter & Jelly Dance Company that comprises a professional company, children's dance classes, and the "Small Feets" youth performance troupe, will be named BDA's 2018 Dr. Michael Shannon Dance Champion.

"Boston Dance Alliance is delighted to honor contributions of people who have done so much for dancers across our community," said BDA Executive Director Debra Cash. "Dr. Micheli is legendary in sports medicine as a researcher, clinician and mentor," Cash says. "He was an integral part of BDA's first Dancer Health Day last fall, where dozens of dancers received wellness screenings from area clinicians. Lyle is fully committed to the health of performers in Greater Boston and across the country."

"Jeanne Traxler's exuberance has transformed countless young dancers' lives, and introduced them to their own potential," Cash says. "The professional PB&J Dance Company has reached more than 70,000 students across the Commonwealth since 1980, bringing the joy of movement and expression to generations of children."

The Dr. Michael Shannon Dance Champion Award is named for the world-renowned pediatric toxicologist and former head of emergency medicine at Children's Hospital in Boston. He was known as the "dancing doctor" for his exuberant interest and participation in the art form. He also served as President of the Boston Dance Alliance Board.

BDA's circus-themed Gala includes a dessert buffet, drinks, performances and the award presentations. Early Bird individual tickets are $45-$60 through March 31; After April 1, prices are $60-$75. Special VIP packages including five tickets and a "sponsor-a-dancer" ticket are $300 (Early Bird) and $450 after April 1. Tickets can be purchased online at bostondancealliance.org/our-community/bda-gala/. Gala auction items are available for bid and purchase through Bidding for Good.