Entitled That's Entertainment! Celebrating Career Transition for Dancers' 20th Anniversary Jubilee, the 7 PM evening, according to press notes, "will pay homage to a century of dance in American entertainment. It will be a lively jubilee that highlights a variety of styles from Ballet to Broadway to Break Dance — with a side order of circus arts for fun."
Those already lined up to take part in the evening include Polly Bergen, Marge Champion, Sandy Duncan, Mercedes Ellington, Bill Irwin, Lypsinka, Michael Moschen, Richard Move, Jane Powell, Noah Racey, Donald Saddler, Jason Samuels Smith, Ben Vereen and Mr. Wiggles. The one-night-only event will also boast artists from American Ballet Theatre, ABT Studio Company, The Big Apple Circus, Cirque du Soleil, Complexions, Crazy Legs & Rock Steady Crew with DJ Slynkee, Dance Times Square, The Joffrey Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company and the World Cup Shooting Stars All Star Cheerleading. (The roster of participants is subject to change.)
Produced and directed by Ann Marie DeAngelo, the evening will feature musical direction by Robert Mikulski.
Several awards will be given during the evening. The Joffrey Ballet, in recognition of its 50th Anniversary Celebration, will receive the Rolex Dance Award, and there will be two recipients of the Career Transition for Dancers' Award for Outstanding Contributions to the World of Dance: The Harkness Foundation for Dance and American Ballet Theatre Chairman Lewis S. Ranieri.
Career Transition for Dancers, founded in 1985, helps dancers establish new careers when dance is no longer an option. Since its inception, the organization has helped over 3,000 professional dancers begin new careers. For more information about CTFD, visit www.careertransition.org. Liza Minnelli, an Oscar winner for her performance in Cabaret, was last on Broadway in a tribute to her late father entitled Minnelli on Minnelli; she returned to New York City's Beacon Theatre with her acclaimed concert Liza's Back! In addition to her Tonys for Flora, the Red Menace and The Act, Minnelli was awarded a special Tony in 1974 for "adding lustre to the Broadway season." Her film credits include "The Sterile Cuckoo," "Arthur," "New York, New York" and "Stepping Out." The singer is also a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress. Her recent album, "Liza's Back!," is available on the J Records label, and "The Best of Liza Minnelli" was recently released on the Columbia/Legacy label.
Tickets for That’s Entertainment! Celebrating Career Transition for Dancers’ 20th Anniversary Jubilee are priced at $550 and $1,000, which includes the City Center performance (131 West 55th Street) and a post performance "Anniversary Waltz Supper with the Stars" at the Metropolitan Ballroom Sheraton New York. For tickets, call Gary Tigner at (212) 764 0172.
Performance-only tickets will be available beginning Aug. 29 by calling (212) 581-1212. Visit www.citycenter.org for more information.
