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Updated: November 2, 2009, 11:31 am	Share    Print    Email

The Lombard twins will participate in the Rolex Presents America Dances! Images courtesy of America Dances

New York City - Rolex presents "America Dances! Celebrating Our Sparkling Heritage - Broadway, TV & Film"- Career Transition For Dancers' 24th Anniversary Jubilee on Monday, November 2, at 7 p.m. at New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (between Seventh and Eighth Avenues) in New York City. Patrick Swayze (1952 - 2009) will be honored posthumously with the 2009 Rolex Dance Award. he Career Transition For Dancers' Awards for Outstanding Contributions to the World of Dance will be given to Lawrence Herbert and the Lloyd E. Rigler - Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation. The show will be followed by an "Anniversary Supper with the Stars" at The Grand Ballroom at The Hilton New York.

Patrick Swayze to be honored posthumously.

"America Dances! Celebrating Our Sparkling Heritage - Broadway, TV & Film" celebrates a variety of entertainment that defines our American culture - Past, Present and Future. This eclectic evening is an assimilation and fusion of styles that move from theater to concert dance, to television and film, in a vibrant homage to an array of dance genres. A film montage will pay tribute to the crazes and evolution of American dance. Some of the talent for the show will include: American Ballet Theatre's Ethan Stiefel, Ashley Bouder and Andrew Veyette from New York City Ballet, Laura Benanti, Bob Fosse's Dancin', Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, "Dancing with the Stars," Jacques d'Amboise, Electric Boogaloo's Mr. Wiggles, Nicole Fosse, Valerie Harper, Lombard Twins, Lori Belilove and The Isadora Duncan Dance Company, Kathleen Marshall, Melanie LaPatin and Tony Meredith's Dance Times Square, Metropolitan Opera's Samuel Ramey, Ann Reinking, Rock Steady Crew, John Selya, "So You Think You Can Dance," Sophisticated Ladies - Tribute to Duke Ellington, Jock Soto, "Step UP 3", The Street Beats Group, Tap City Youth Ensemble, and Sonya Tayeh Dance with other stars and surprises. It is produced and directed by Ann Marie DeAngelo. Artists and program subject to change without notice.

The Jubilee Chair is Michele Herbert and the 24th Anniversary Chairs are Anka K. Palitz and Allen Brill. Gala Chairs are Victor Elmaleh, Michele Riggi, James D. Rigler, Susan Fawcett Sosin, and Lisa Niemi Swayze. The Dinner Chair is Janice Becker; Auction Chairs are Ann Van Ness and Heléne Alexopoulos Warrick; West Coast Chair is Roberta Silbert; Journal Chairs are Richard A. Perdue and Thomas Porter. Vice Chairs are Gayle Conran, Alexander J. Dubé, Mercedes Ellington, Niko Elmaleh, Christina Rose, and Irene Shen. The Honorary Chairs are Cynthia Gregory, Angela Lansbury, Donna McKechnie, Sono Osato, Ann Reinking, Chita Rivera, and Tommy Tune.

Valerie Harper expected as special guest.

Career Transition For Dancers with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago has helped over 4,100 professional dancers identify their unique talents in preparation for establishing new careers when dance is no longer an option. Since its founding in 1985, the organization has provided more than 41,000 hours (equivalent to over $4 million) of one-on-one career counseling and program services - at no cost - and has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships for education and entrepreneurial grants.

CTFD also provides dancers with specialized services that include transition seminars and workshops, peer support groups, resource centers, a toll-free national career counseling hot-line, a website, and a National Career Network. www.careertransition.org

Gala tickets are $600, $750 and $1,200 each, which include the performance and a post-performance "Anniversary Supper with the Stars", live auction and dancing at The Grand Ballroom at The Hilton New York (1335 Avenue of the Americas at 54th Street). Sponsorships and tables are also available as well as Jubilee Journal ads. For gala tickets call Marjorie Horne, McEvoy & Assocs. at 212 228-7446, ext. 33 and for Group Sales call 718-499-9691. Show only tickets are $130, $75, $55, and $45 at the Box Office, through CityTix at 212-581-1212, and at www.nycitycenter.org.