On Saturday, July 27, 2013, the Dizzy Feet Foundation (DFF), in partnership with The Music Center, will present the third annual “Celebration of Dance” Gala, hosted by its board members — including International Emmy Award-winning producer Nigel Lythgoe (American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance), director Adam Shankman (Hairspray, Rock of Ages), dancers/choreographers Stephen “tWitch” Boss (So You Think You Can Dance, Bones) and Derek Hough (Dancing With the Stars), and actress Summer Glau (Hawaii Five-O, Serenity).
The gala, which will take place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at The Music Center in Los Angeles, will feature highly anticipated performances by talent from So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With the Stars, the Step Up films, Travis Wall’s Shaping Sound, Philadanco, and many others.
This year, DFF will honor American actress, dancer, and singer, Chita Riverawith the DFF Inspiration Award, and Erik Feig, President, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, Production with the DFF Impact Award.
The DFF Inspiration Award is presented to an individual whose dance prowess, talent, and gifts have delighted audiences and whose career in film, television, and/or theater has left an indelible mark on the entertainment field. As one of the most highly-regarded stars of dance on both the stage and on screen, Ms. Rivera has been an inspiration to generations of arts aficionados, dance fans, and others around the world.
The DFF Impact Award is presented to an individual whose enthusiasm for and support of dance and the arts has had a major impact in terms of community, culture, and country. As the architect of the “Step Up” series of movies, which have grossed more than $500,000,000 worldwide and inspired countless imitators, Erik Feig is credited with exposing millions of people around the world to the art of dance.
All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Dizzy Feet Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is threefold: to sponsor, fund, and/or support dance education programs that expose children in low-income areas to the lifelong benefits of dance education through and with local community organizations; to provide scholarships to talented students studying at accredited or nationally regarded dance schools, studios, or institutions; and in conjunction with recognized credentialing organizations, to support and increase the quality of all styles of dance education in the United States.
Individual VIP tickets are available for purchase at www.dizzyfeetfoundation.org/tickets for $400 and include admission to the Gala Performance and a seat at the Celebration Supper. General admission tickets for the Gala Performance only are available starting at $34 through The Music Center Box Office: www.musiccenter.org/DFF.
The event is supported by presenting sponsor, The Music Center.
The gala takes place on National Dance Day (NDD), an annual celebration and grassroots campaign launched in 2010 by Nigel Lythgoe, which encourages Americans to embrace dance as a fun and positive way to maintain good health and combat obesity. NDD achieved national recognition when Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a long-time proponent of healthy lifestyles, announced at a press conference on July 31, 2010, in Washington, D.C., that she was introducing a congressional resolution declaring the last Saturday in July to be the country’s official National Dance Day.
