Local Dance Company Brings Awareness to World Wide Disease: Donates Proceeds to National Brain Tumor Society with Encore Performance

CaZo Dance Company and Artistic Director Bridgette Borzillo are pleased to announce their new full-length dance production, Tough As Nails, an emotionally inspiring story based on the lives of Borzillo's cousins, Phil and Stacy Bacigalupi.

Six years into their healthy marriage, Phil and Stacy are hit with news that change their lives forever. As the decision is made to finally start a family, Phil is diagnosed with a brain tumor. The next five years then become a journey of life, death, love and self-discovery as the couple seeks to find the strength within themselves and one another as they face tremendous adversity.

This isn't the first time Borzillo has interpreted a true story through dance. Borzillo's first feature-length show, Remember When... An Old-Fashioned Love Story, told the true story of the everlasting love between her late grandparents. "I do tend to gravitate to stories that convey the kind of love and strength I try to bring to my own life. It just so happens that my family is full of interesting, inspirational, heartbreaking stories."

For the first time, CaZo Dance Company will conduct a live Q&A after each show with members of the cast, as well as Phil and Stacy, the real couple behind the story. "I fell in love with their story the moment I read their blogs chronicling their journey," Borzillo says. "I was so grateful to be able to interpret their story on stage, but there's nothing better than having them be speak with the cast and the audience and add more context to what's presented on stage."

To help spread awareness and support research into finding a cure for brain tumors, CaZo Dance Company will be donating $3 of every ticket sold to the National Brain Cancer Society. "It's a cause Phil and Stacy have both become very ingrained in, and I want to share their passion to help others who may be going through the same thing, and hopefully, one day, find a cure."

Tough As Nails will be performed live in the Nesbitt-Elliott Playhouse at the Mesa Arts Center Arizona on Friday, June 29th at 7:30 pm and Saturday, June 30 at  7:30 pm, with the live Q&A to take place directly after each performance. Tickets go on sale now at www.cazodance.com. Prices are $26 for general audiences, $21 for students, and $46 for VIP (limited quantities).

Join the members of CaZo Dance Company as they bring to life this incredible true story, the very definition of "through better or for worse, through sickness and in health... for as long as we both shall live."

 

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