The cast of the Broadway musical Footloose will cut loose April 26 when it helps kick off this year's National Dance Week, a week of events and activities across the nation to increase awareness of dance. The celebration lasts April 24-May 2.

On April 26 at noon, the Footloose crew will join host Bebe Neuwirth and the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, Momix, Martha Graham Dance Company, Dance Theatre of Harlem, DRA Studio of the Year (this year's recipient is the Milford School of the Performing Arts) Ron Brown/Evidence, New York City Dance Alliance and other dancers at Lincoln Center's Jose Robertson Plaza. A similar kickoff event will take place at Los Angeles' California Plaza on April 30 at noon.

National Dance Week will also be celebrated in San Francisco, Washington, DC, Ohio, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, among other locales.

Chairing this year's event will be film actress Shirley MacLaine. MacLaine first came to fame when, as a chorus member on the original production of The Pajama Game, she replaced an injured Carol Haney. Among her duties? Dancing the Bob Fosse-d "Steam Heat."

For information on National Dance Week, visit the website:   www.ambrosiaweb.com/nationaldanceweek.