Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation Presents DANCES FROM THE HEART Tonight, 4/30

Dancers from major Bay Area companies unite for an evening of "DANCES FROM THE HEART," presented by the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation (REAF), 7:30pm, tonight, April 30, 2012 at the Cowell Theatre, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco. Tickets ($30/$40/$50 performance only; $100-$1,000 patron level includes post-performance reception/preferred seating/more) are available at 415.273.1620 or www.helpisontheway.org.

The evening will be a first-ever collaborative event uniting dancers from companies around the Bay Area including Ballet San Jose, Company C Contemporary Ballet, Diablo Ballet, Amy Seiwert's Imagery, ODC, Smuin Ballet, Na Lei Hulu, Post:Ballet, Nikki & Ethan White/White Tree Fine Art, and other surprises to be announced. According to Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation Executive Director Ken Henderson, "This will be the first time top dance companies from throughout the Bay Area have collaborated for an evening of dance to benefit a cause. While both New York City and Chicago have long-standing dance benefits like this, San Francisco has not been able to bring together its dancers for a cause -- until now. This is an event we hope to build into another signature, annual event for REAF." Funds raised will support the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation of San Francisco and Larkin Street Youth Services with an additional grant to be made to Dancers' Groups' Parachute Fund.

Honorary co-chairs for the evening are choreographer and principal character dancer at San Francisco Ballet Val Caniparoli, former prima ballerina and Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Muriel Maffrey, film and TV actress (the original Catwoman) and dancer Julie Newmar, and former ballroom dance champion Sherri Burke, CEO of Cheryl Burke LLC. Chairing the event are civic leaders Ron Hummel and Masha Archer, with able assistance from Benefit Planning Committee members Darren Anderson, Don Brown, Joseph Candeloro, Robert Dekkers, John Uetz, and Nikki White. Executive Producers of the event are Ken Henderson and Joe Seiler.

REAF is a 501(c)3 agency dedicated to raising funds for and awareness about AIDS services in the SF Bay Area. It was founded in 1994 by two mothers who lost their only sons to AIDS, as a way to honor their sons' memories and support agencies that care for AIDS patients. To date, REAF has distributed well over $2.6 million to 32 AIDS service agencies. Full details are available at www.richmondermet.org.

Photo credit: Scot Goodman