Wednesday, October 17, 2012
GALA PERFORMANCE BY:
Tigerpalast Varieté Theater Frankfurt
Liberté, egalité, varieté
This was the motto of the Tigerpalast Varieté when it opened on 30th September 1988 in downtown Frankfurt. The intense public interest in live entertainment – chanson, cabaret, live music and breathtaking acrobatics – continues today. As Matthias Beltz, co-founder of the Tigerpalast Varieté and himself a cabaret artist, announced at the time: “Quality entertainment is a duty. Come and visit the Tigerpalast – it’s the last word in liberté, egalité, varieté!”
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Wednesday, October 10, 2012
GALA PERFORMANCE BY:
Daniel Cyr
A native of Îles-de-la-Madeleine and former student at the National Circus
School, Daniel Cyr has plied his craft in circus troupes including Cirque du
Soleil, Cirque Tonnerre, and Cirque Éloize, of which he is a founding
member. He has performed in festivals in Verona, Mexico City, and Paris and
at major events including the G7 Summit in Halifax, the halftime show at a
Toronto Raptors playoff game, the Closing Ceremony of the 2006 Winter
Olympics in Turin, and halftime at the NHL All-Star Game in Montréal.
Daniel has also appeared on several television programs. His artistic search led
him to the conception of new routines and innovative devices, including the
roue Cyr (Cyr Wheel), which he performs in the Big Apple Circus.
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Wednesday, September 26, 2012
GALA PERFORMANCE BY:
Jason Samuels Smith
In less than a decade, Jason Samuels Smith has emerged as a multi-talented leader in the Art form of Tap. He received the 2009 Dance Magazine Award and won both an Emmy and American Choreography Award for “Outstanding Choreography” for the Opening number of the Jerry Lewis/MDA Telethon in a tribute to the late Gregory Hines. Mr. Samuels-Smith was also awarded the Gregory Hines Humanitarian Award; a Certificate of Appreciation by the City of Los Angeles for creating the First Annual Los Angeles Tap Festival in 2003; a Proclamation declaring April 23rd “Jason Samuels Day” from the City of Shreveport, Louisiana; the “Ivy of Education” from Brainerd Institute; and the “President Kenny Award” from Stony Brook.
Mr. Samuels Smith founded tap company A.C.G.I. (Anybody Can Get It) with performances that included an exclusive 2-week sold-out engagement at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the New York City Center Fall for Dance Festival and at Sadlers Wells Sampled in London, as well as on FOX’s hit show So You Think You Can Dance.
Mr. Samuels Smith continues a collaboration with YouthSpeaks for the Living Word Project set to tour again this year. He is also currently shooting a documentary called “Tap Dreams” which highlights the global tap community and rewards audition winners with the chance to attend popular tap festivals in the US. He aims to create opportunity for tap dancers and is known worldwide as an advocate and spokesperson for tap.
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Tuesday, September 18, 2012
GALA PERFORMANCE BY:
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, under the artistic leadership of Glenn Edgerton, celebrates 35 years as one of the most original forces in contemporary dance in the 2012-13 season. As one of the world’s most important contemporary dance companies, Hubbard Street encompasses a vast array of techniques and forms, as well as an understanding of abstract artistry and the emotional nuances of movement.
Critically acclaimed for its exuberant, athletic, and innovative repertoire, Hubbard Street presents performances that inspire, challenge, and engage audiences worldwide. The company’s ensemble of dancers displays unparalleled versatility and virtuosity, allowing Hubbard Street to expand its eclectic repertoire with works by master American and international choreographers. Since Lou Conte founded the company in 1977, Hubbard Street has expanded beyond its main company to include: Hubbard Street 2, which cultivates young professional dancers and choreographers; extensive Education & Community Programs; Youth Dance Classes (ages 9 months-13 years), including Creative Movement and various dance technique classes at Hubbard Street Dance Center; and the Lou Conte Dance Studio, which offers a wide variety of classes weekly in jazz, ballet, modern, tap, African, hip hop, yoga, Pilates, and Zumba at levels from basic to professional, as well as workshops and master classes.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is also home to the Chicago offices of Career Transition For Dancers, where career counselor Maryellen Langhout helps our Chicago area clients to move into their next careers.
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Thursday, September 13, 2012
GALA PERFORMANCE BY:
Amra-Faye Wright
Amra-Faye has played Velma Kelly in Chicago on Broadway and in London’s West End for 12 years, as well as throughout the world and in Japan where she performed the role in Japanese.
Hailing from the South African farmlands, she has performed on the international stage for 20 years, starring in numerous Musical Revues in multiple languages, and for two years, as lead artist in the Cabaret du Casino, Monte Carlo.
She has won several awards for her one-woman revues in South Africa, and has performed cabarets at London’s famed Fringe Theatre, The King’s Head, and regularly hosted at Pigalle, in London. She continues to be a frequent guest soloist with production companies and corporations around the world.
Some roles include: Sheila/A Chorus Line; Sandy/Grease; Vi Moore/Footloose; Mrs Darling/Peter Pan; Mother Superior/Nunsense; Lead/Elvis Las Vegas.
She recently performed her cabaret, ‘Sittin on Top of the World’, at Feinstein’s.
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Thursday, September 6, 2012
GALA PERFORMANCE BY:
Nate Cooper
As a physical comedian, Cooper has toured the world sharing his love for laughter with a variety of audiences. In his 10-year career with music and dance company Rhythm in Shoes, he has performed in venues such as Jacob’s Pillow (New York), Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts (DC), Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Concert Series, and The Late Show with David Letterman. The international superstar has delighted audiences around the world—from Australia to London; and Las Vegas to Bali—with his highly entertaining juggling acts, roller skate tap dancing antics, contemporary clowning, and “Stupid Human Tricks.”
Collaborations have included National Dance Project Tours – Rambleshoe, with The Red Clay Ramblers, and Time Shift with Keith Terry and Crosspulse. He has also had the pleasure of appearing with Fred Garbo Inflatable Theatre Company and Novatown with The Human Race Theatre Company. Cooper also presents his solo show in street festivals around the world.
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Wednesday, August 29, 2012
GALA PERFORMANCE BY:
Dancing Classrooms
Dancing Classrooms was launched in 1994 as a not-for-profit project of the American Ballroom Theater Company. It is an arts-in-education program teaching ballroom dance to the 5th, 8th and 12th grade students of participating schools. As seen in the documentary film Mad Hot Ballroom, Dancing Classrooms is an in-school residency for every child, regardless of his or her background or experience.
While Dancing Classrooms has been hailed as an effective program for teaching social dance, the program provides many other benefits. Dancing Classrooms is about creating an atmosphere that allows students who are typically introverted and reserved to step out and shine. It focuses physical energy and increases health through the joy of movement. It builds self-esteem and interactive social skills as it improves children’s confidence and ability to relate to others.
“With Dancing Classrooms, we are able to reach children in existing classroom settings and address fundamental issues of mutual respect and self-esteem – issues that social dance puts into practice. We hope to inspire children through dance to do well, to respect one another, to be proud. This program is about more than dance, it is about teaching children to take a bow.”
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Thursday, August 22, 2012
GALA PERFORMANCE BY:
Suzanne Farrell Ballet
The iconic Suzanne Farrell Ballet will be making its one and only New York City appearance this year at our 27th Anniversary Gala. The company will perform George Balanchine’s Meditation, a piece created by Balanchine especially for Suzanne Farrell in 1963.
In just over a decade, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet has evolved from an educational program of the Kennedy Center to a highly lauded ballet company. To date, the Company has over thirty-five ballets in its repertoire, including works by Ms. Farrell’s mentors George Balanchine, Maurice Béjart, and Jerome Robbins.
Committed to carrying forth the legacy of George Balanchine through performances of his classic ballets, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet announced the formal creation of the Balanchine Preservation Initiative in February 2007. This initiative serves to introduce rarely seen or “lost” Balanchine works to audiences around the world. The Suzanne Farrell Ballet has performed annually at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and has toured both nationally and internationally.
“‘Meditation,’ which was the first creation Balanchine made for Ms. Farrell herself, looked especially rich, isolated in the program’s simple setting.”
-The Wall Street Journal, December 10, 2003
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Thursday, August 16, 2012
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLD OF DANCE AWARD HONOREE
Arthur Murray International
The Career Transition For Dancers Outstanding Contributions to the World of Dance Award will be awarded to Arthur Murray International (celebrating their 100th Anniversary) at our 27th Anniversary Jubilee Jump for Joy! A Dance Variety Spectacular on Monday, November 5, 2012 at New York City Center.
“Arthur Murray International is honored to receive this award as we celebrate 100 years of teaching the world to dance. Career Transition For Dancers empowers the lives of thousands of seasoned dancers through the services it provides which are worthy of praise. We are delighted to become one of its prestigious supporters as we strive together to make a difference in the lives of those who have dedicated their lives to the proliferation of dance.”
Philip S. Masters John Kimmins
Chairman of the Board President
As America’s se
cond oldest franchise organization, Arthur Murray International, Inc. is known as a prominent entertainment company with ballroom dance studios located throughout the world. Today, the Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studios continue a 100 year old tradition of teaching the world to dance.
It all began in 1912 when Arthur Murray, an American symbol of entrepreneurial success and social dancing overcame his shyness by learning and teaching ballroom dance. Being the first to use advertising techniques considered cutting edge at the time, his concept of selling dance lessons by mail, one step at a time, took the use of direct mail to a new level. Mr. Murray’s one Manhattan studio on Madison Avenue propelled his company into the largest chain of dance schools in the world. The first franchised location outside New York opened in Detroit in 1938.
In July 1950, Mr. Murray purchased five 15 minute television spots on CBS and persuaded his wife Kathryn to be the hostess. It was later expanded to a half hour show called the “Arthur Murray Dance Party.” By May 1952, the Murray’s had televised almost 100 programs and millions of viewers flocked to the Arthur Murray Studios throughout the country. This highly popular show ran for twelve years on national television.
When Arthur and Kathryn retired in 1964, a group of associates purchased the company and brought a fresh new spirit and leadership to it which has kept pace with the rapidly changing times and continues to flourish today as the world’s largest dance instruction organization under the direction of the present Management team. Currently there are approximately 270 Arthur Murray Dance Studios worldwide!
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Thursday, August 9, 2012
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLD OF DANCE AWARD HONOREE
Gerald M. Appelstein
“Since 2009, Jerry Appelstein has been an invaluable member of the Joyce Board of Trustees. His wise counsel and real passion for dance and the dance community set an example for us all. Even more than that, his kindness alone lights up a room.” Linda Shelton is the Executive Director and a Trustee of The Joyce Theater Foundation, and for many years has served as a dedicated member of CTFD’s annual Gala Leadership Committee.
Jerry was born in Connecticut and raised in Sharon, Massachusetts. He has been involved in the oil business since his graduation from MIT in 1980, where he majored in chemical engineering with minors in English literature and economics. Since then, he has worked for Exxon and now manages his own trading operation as VP at Tauber Oil Company, based in Houston. Jerry is also currently the Vice President of the MIT Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Jerry’s involvements in the arts are many; he served as chairman of the Board of Complexions Contemporary Ballet for many years and is head of the Development Committee as a trustee of the Joyce Theater Foundation. He is also an avid supporter of Dancers Responding to Aids and numerous other dance companies throughout New York. Closer to his New Jersey home, Jerry supports the non-profit Skyline Theater Company, and maintains a close association with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Bergen County’s 2011 Magazine featured Jerry as a Patron of the Arts in its April 2011 issue.
An avid rock climber, Jerry also collects fine wines, particularly outstanding Cabernets from California. He also performs at his best friend’s annual dance studio recital at the Dance Art Creative Center in Teaneck, NJ where he writes and directs, as well as acting and singing each year.
Jerry has two daughters, Jessica (27) and Janna (22). Jessica recently graduated cum laude from Northeastern University, and more recently from FIT, and is now pursuing a career in the fashion world. Janna is interested in a psychology career but is currently immersed as an artisan, having already formed her first Company called EyeofJA. Both daughters had highly productive and competitive dance careers with Janna performing as Clara in Radio City’s Xmas Spectacular on the Grand Ole Opry Stage when she was only thirteen.
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Wednesday, July 25, 2012
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLD OF DANCE AWARD HONOREE
Joni Berry
Joni Eichenbaum Berry was destined to have an impact on the community from the very beginning. The only child of philanthropists Joseph and Inez Eichenbaum, Joni serves as President of the Los Angeles-based Eichenbaum Foundation. She has touched the lives of countless people by her generous giving and volunteer efforts. Joni has endowed the Joseph and Inez Eichenbaum Center for Seniors which provides a way for seniors to stay active and healthy by providing a state of the art fitness facility that caters specifically, free of charge, to the needs of older adults.
In addition to the Center, Joni has also been actively involved for 56 years with SHARE Incorporated, staging star-studded shows to raise funds for children’s charities in California. She is also a major funding participant of the ECF-ERAS Center in Los Angeles, which helps young people and families at risk. Joni’s mother had a long battle with Alzheimer’s and in her memory The Eichenbaum Foundation funds The Eichenbaum Laboratory of Alzheimer’s Disease at Tel-Aviv University.
An avid dancer since the age of three, when she was part of Muriel Abbot’s Chicago Baby Professionals, Joni has danced with such legends as Sammy Davis Jr., Gene Kelly, Dan Dailey and Donald O’Connor. Joni is in her 17th year as Chairman of the Board of the Professional Dancers Society, which is affiliated with The Actors Fund, helping dancers requiring assistance with medical, housing and other needs. She is also a director of the West Coast Board of The Actors Fund. Joni is a generous supporter of all the performing arts, but dancers—and organizations that are there for them such as Career Transition For Dancers—occupy a special place in her heart. And with all this, Joni still found time to raise four boys and is married to author Stephen Maitland-Lewis.
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Thursday, July 19, 2012
2012 ROLEX DANCE AWARD HONOREE
Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli, winner of four Tony Awards, an Oscar, a special “Legends” Grammy, two Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy, is one of the entertainment world’s consummate performers—a true “superstar.”
Born to actress/singer Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli, Liza began her professional career at l6 in 1963 in an Off-Broadway revival of the musical “Best Foot Forward,” for which she received her first Theatre World Award. In 1965 at 19 she became the youngest woman ever to win a leading actress Tony Award for “Flora the Red Menace.” In 1975 with only one week’s notice to replace an ailing Gwen Verdon in the Broadway run of Kander and Ebb’s “Chicago,” Liza played to sold-out audiences. In 1984, Liza was reunited with her “Chicago” co-star Chita Rivera in the Kander and Ebb musical “The Rink,” and received a Best Actress Tony nomination. In 1997, she starred in Broadway’s “Victor/Victoria.”
She received a special Tony award for breaking the box-office record at the Winter Garden Theatre in 1973 for her one-woman show. In 1977, she returned to Broadway in the musical, “The Act” for which she was awarded her third Tony. The musical was directed by Martin Scorsese, who had just directed Liza on the big screen in “New York, New York” opposite Robert DeNiro.
From the Palladium and Royal Albert Hall in London, Opera House in Sydney, Olympia Theatre in Paris, to New York’s historic Carnegie and Radio City Music Halls, her concert touring electrified audiences and set box office records. Liza returned to Broadway in December 1999 to pay tribute to her father in “Minnelli on Minnelli” and in 2008 with “Liza’s at the Palace…” which won her a fourth Tony.
Throughout her lifetime Liza has supported various charities and causes including The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential and amFAR The Foundation for AIDS Research. When she is not performing around the world, she works with students at The Actor’s Studio teaching master classes in acting and singing.
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Tuesday, June 19, 2012
SARDI’S PRE-GALA LUNCHEON SPONSORED BY ROLEX
Career Transition For Dancers 
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