Career Transitions for Dancers Celebrate Broadway and Ann-Margret
on October 8
By: Ellis Nassour
The only U.S. nonprofit solely dedicated to helping dancers discover rewarding careers when performing is no longer an option, Career Transition for Dancers (CTFD) will celebrate Broadway and the incomparable singer/dancer/film star Ann-Margret at its 28th Anniversary gala Tuesday, October 8 at 7 P.M. at City Center.
Rolex presents Broadway & Beyond: Celebrating Theatre & Dance will "bring to life the magic of theater through the universal scope of dance in pop culture." There’ll be numbers from Broadway shows A Chorus Line, Damn Yankees, The Tap Dance Kid, and others.
Two-time Oscar nominee, five-time Golden Globe, Emmy winner, and Grammy nominee, not to mention filmdom’s "America’s Sweetheart" and "Sex Kitten" Ann-Margret (film Bye, Bye Birdie, and many more) will receive the glittering Rolex Dance Award, presented by none other than Oscar-winner, four-time Tony-winner, two-time Golden Globe winner, and Legends Grammy honoree, Liza Minnelli, the recipient of the 2012 Award.
Appearing and/or performing are Tony and Drama Desk winner Kelly Bishop (ACL; TV’s Gilmore Girls), veteran stage and screen star Lynn Cohen (Sex and the City), Dulé Hill (Broadway, After Midnight; TV, Psych, The West Wing), Andrea McArdle (original Annie), Tony and Drama Desk nominee Christiane Noll (Chaplin, Ragtime), Rosie O’Donnell, Orfeh (Legally Blonde), dancer/choreographer Noah Racey (Curtains), Tony-nominated choreographer/director and dancer Randy Skinner (upcoming Dames at Sea revival), Jimmy Tate (The Tap Dance Kid), and numerous others.
There’ll be performances from American Repertory Ballet, Broadway Dance Lab, Cirque du Soleil, New York Song & Dance Company, Rosie’s Theater Kids, and World Cup All-Star Cheerleading. SMASH choreographer Josh Bergasse will present a world premiere. Ann Marie DeAngelo once again undertakes the heroic job of director.
The Outstanding Contributions to the World of Dance Awards will be given to philanthropist Ann Van Ness and Harlequin Floors, leader in dance company sprung and vinyl flooring.
CTFD has offices in New York, L.A., and Chicago, as well as a mobile National Outreach Project, to provide counseling and entrepreneurial support to aid dancers in their transitions. For more information, visit www.careertransition.org.
Gala anniversary chairs are Anka K. Palitz, and Susan and Stewart Wicht. Among the Gala chairs are James Fayette of American Guild of Musical Artists/AFL-CIO and American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance producer and 2011 Rolex Award recipient Nigel Lythgoe.
Performance-only tickets are available at $45 – $130 and are available at the City Center box office or through CityTix at www.nycitycenter.org or by calling (212) 581-1212. For patron tickets and post-show supper dance and auction, call (212) 228-7446 X. 33.
