Cassandra Seidenfeld News

Estée Lauder's Thia Breen, author and historian Barbara Goldsmith and philanthropist and animal activist Cornelia Guest are Women's Project's 2012 Women of Achievement who will be inducted at its 27th Annual Gala Celebration, hosted by the columnist Cindy Adams, on March 5.

Estée Lauder's Thia Breen, author and historian Barbara Goldsmith and philanthropist and animal activist Cornelia Guest are Women's Project's 2012 Women of Achievement who will be inducted at its 27th Annual Gala Celebration hosted by the columnist Cindy Adams at the Copacabana, 268 West 47th Street, on Monday, March 5, at 6:30pm.

GIVE KIDS A SHOT! National Meningitis Association Gala 2012 , A Benefit to Save Lives in the Fight Against Meningitis, a Vaccine-Preventable Disease, Honorary Chairs Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr. and Sharon Loeb & Nick Springer; Gala Chairs Lenore Cooney, Cooney/Waters Group & Gary Springer, Springer Associates PR ; Master of Ceremonies is EMMY Award winning actor Richard Thomas. Auction Chairs: Matt Klarberg & Errol Rappaport.

The NYC Dance Alliance Foundation (NYCDAF) celebrated its first anniversary at The Joyce Theater with a dazzling evening of dance artistry "Destiny Rising" featuring outstanding NYCDA alumni, the dynamic choreography of NYCDA faculty and special guest performances by stars of prominent dance companies all to benefit the NYCDAF College Scholarship Program.

The NYC Dance Alliance Foundation (NYCDAF) celebrated its first anniversary at The Joyce Theater with a dazzling evening of dance artistry "Destiny Rising" featuring outstanding NYCDA alumni, the dynamic choreography of NYCDA faculty and special guest performances by stars of prominent dance companies all to benefit the NYCDAF College Scholarship Program.

Fred & Adele Astaire Awards Producer Patricia Watt, The Douglas Watt Family Fund for the Performing Arts, & art consultant Julie Keyes hosted a kickoff cocktail reception for the committees and sponsors of the 30th Fred & Adele Astaire Awards Gala at the theater district's Remi Restaurant. Astaire Awards Associate Producer Carolyn Kendall Buchter and Alix Michel, the Co-Chairs of the 30th Anniversary Awards Gala were also on hand to welcome guests that included such theater world glitterati as 5 time Astaire Award winner Susan Stroman, producers Emanuel Azenberg, Wendy Federman and Dan Whitten, SDC Executive Director Laura Penn, Lee Roy Reams, Bruce Michael, NYC Dance Alliance Executive Director Joe Lanteri, J. Elaine Marcos (Priscilla: Queen of the Desert), Kearann Giovanni (Hugh Jackman Back to Broadway), Meggie Cansler (Wicked), Rob Ashford (How to Succeed...), actresses Sondra Lee, Sarah Bierstock, Cassandra Seidenfeld Lyster & Jacquelin Murphy. Also lending their support for the 30th annual Awards which will take place in spring 2012 were Sara Johnson, Wendy Diamond, Kirk Pacheco, Suzy & Lincoln Boehm, Lynn Surry, filmmaker AlBert Maysles, Andrew Wargo, Caroline Lieberman, Pamela Morgan, Regina Kravitz, Barry Minsky, Joel Breiter.

The NYC Dance Alliance Foundation held its 1st Annual Bright Lights, Shining Stars Gala at the Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU and clearly delivered on its promise of a star studded evening of music & dance with one show-stopping number after another. Following cocktails hosted by Honorary Co-Chairs Cassandra Seidenfeld Lyster and Robin Cofer, eager guests flooded into the elegant theater for an evening of unforgettable moments.

The NYC Dance Alliance, in an effort to make its Bright Stars! Shining Lights! Gala on August 1 at the Skirball Center at NYU affordable to a broad audience including performing artists, students and young professionals and to continue its mission of empowering young dancers is offering $25 Balcony Seats for their Gala with CODE: DANCER through the Skirball Box office ( 212-352-3101 ) or through The Skirball website:

Bright Lights! Shining Stars!, a gala event to benefit the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation, will honor the legendary Roberta Flack with the NYCDAF's First Ambassador for the Arts Award on August 1, 2011 at the Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU. 566 LaGuardia Place, New York. The star studded evening of song and dance directed by renowned choreographer, dancer and instructor Joe Lanteri will also feature the awarding of $50,000+ in college scholarships to promising young dancers.

NYCDAF Executive Director Joe Lanteri director of Bright Lights! Shining Stars!, a gala event to benefit the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation has announced that 'Smokey Joe's Café' stars Brenda Braxton, Felicia Finley, Ramona Keller & Deb Lyons will reunite to perform one of the great Leiber & Stoller hits from the smash musical at the star studded gala.

Following a dazzling opening number featuring Broadway stars & hundreds of young dancers from across the country, Costa Rica & Canada, Joe Lanteri Executive Director of the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation got to the real 'meat' of the Closing Evening Gala at the Sheraton New York, the announcement of the college and university scholarship winners By the end of the segment, a mind boggling total of $2.8 Million in scholarships were awarded to the most promising young dancers.

Bright Lights! Shining Stars!, a gala event to benefit the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation, will honor the legendary Roberta Flack with the NYCDAF's First Ambassador for the Arts Award on August 1, 2011 at the Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU. 566 LaGuardia Place, New York. The star studded evening of song and dance directed by renowned choreographer, dancer and instructor Joe Lanteri will also feature the awarding of $50,000+ in college scholarships to promising young dancers.

The 29th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, hosted by Bebe Neuwirth and Lee Roy Reams at the magnificent Skirball Center for The Performing Arts at NYU once again honored excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and in film. Susan Stroman took top honors for Best Choreographer on Broadway in a field of nine nominees for her stunning work in 'The Scottsboro Boys'. It was a record breaking 5th Astaire Award for the 5 time Tony Award and 5 time Drama Desk winner. Two time Tony Award Winner Bebe Neuwirth presented the award to Ms. Stroman. Sutton Foster star of 'Anything Goes' took home her second Astaire for Best Female Dancer on Broadway for her rousing performance as 'Reno Sweeney'. Her first Astaire was for 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'. Desmond Richardson, Tony nominee for 'Fosse' and co-founder and co-artistic director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet presented the award to Ms. Sutton. First timer Norbert Leo Butz star of 'Catch Me if You Can' took the prize for Best Male Dancer on Broadway presented by Tony and Drama Desk winner Karen Ziemba . Australia's Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon won the Astaire for Excellence in Choreography in Film for their breathtaking dances in 'Mao's Last Dancer' presented by Tony Award winner Bill Irwin. Legendary dancer, choreographer, teacher and founder of the National Dance Institute Jacques d'Amboise received the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award named for the late drama critic and co-founder of the Award with Fred Astaire. Following a major tribute in dance including a brilliant performance by NYCB's Russell Janzen of a piece from the ballet 'Who Cares' created by George Balanchine and first danced by d'Amboise; an exuberant performance of 'Shall We Dance' by d'Amboise's students at the National Dance Institute and praiseful introductions by Len Cariou, Charlotte & Christopher d'Amboise, Brian Stokes Mitchell presented the award to Mr. d'Amboise.

The Fred and Adele Astaire Awards the only awards to recognize excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway are offering a limited number of Student Rush tickets with proper student ID at $20 beginning 6pm Sunday May 15 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University Box Office Only, 566 LaGuardia Place, New York City 10012. The dazzling Awards Show & Performances begin at 7:30 pm. The producers want to make this extraordinary event available to young people with an interest in dance and theater.

Patricia Watt, Executive Producer of the 2011 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, has announced the first group of Presenters for the 29th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, In addition to Len Cariou and Brian Stokes Mitchell who will co-present the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary, dancer, choreographer, teacher and star of stage, film and television Jacques D'Amboise, additional presenters include Bill Irwin, Maurice Hines, Christine Andreas, Charlotte D'amboise, Christopher D'amboise and Karen Ziemba.

The 29th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards nominees were announced by choreographer & director Lee Roy Reams at a special reception hosted by Carolyn Kendall Buchter, Ronald Buchter and Patricia Watt, Producer of the Astaire Awards at Theater Row's Firebird Russian Restaurant,. The 'Astaires' are the only awards to honor excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and in film. Check out photos from the reception below!

at a special reception hosted by Carolyn Kendall Buchter, Ronald Buchter and Patricia Watt, Producer of the Astaire Awards at Theater Row's Firebird Russian Restaurant,. The 'Astaires' are the only awards to honor excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and in film.

The 29th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Award Nominees will be announced at a special reception hosted by Carolyn Kendall Buchter, Ronald Buchter, Cassandra Seidenfeld Lyster and Patricia Watt, Producer of the Astaire Awards at Theater Row's Firebird Russian Restaurant, 365 West 46th Street, New York 10036 on Tuesday April 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The 'Astaires' are the only awards to honor excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and in film. Actor, Choreographer , director and dancer Lee Roy Reams will announce the nominees.

The Fred and Adele Astaire Awards will once again recognize excellence in dance on both stage and film. This year's Awards gala will take place May 15,2011 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University, 566 LaGuardia Place) New York City 10019.

Bonnie Pfeifer Evans, fashion model, philanthropist and real estate investor; Mindy Grossman, Chief Executive Officer of HSN, Inc (Home Shopping Network); and Bebe Neuwirth, two-time Tony Award-winner currently starring on Broadway in Addams Family are Women's Project's 2011 Women of Achievement.