New York City - The Career Transition For Dancers' 26th Anniversary jubilee was held on Monday, October 31, 2011 at the newly renovated New York City Center.

Gloria Page and Delroy Lindo. (Rob Rich)

Chita Rivera hosted the entertainment extravaganza for kids and adults of all ages! Regarded as an American national treasure, Rivera is one of Broadway's most accomplished and versatile dancer/actress/singers. The thrilling show astonished with fun and spine-tingling works in an array of styles - woven together in a spook-tacular celebration of dance. The benefit raised $1 million for the wonderful oranization.

Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth with some former Bob Fosse dancers opened the program with "Magic To Do" from "Piopñ," followed by the Naiioiial Dance Institute and other children performing Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Other numbers included Noah Racey and The New York Song & Dance Company performing the classic Cole Porter number "I've Got You Under My Skin." Premieres during the evening included Carolina Ballet - "Dracula" (NYC Premiere); "The Bell Witch" (World Premiere); American Repertory Ballet - excerpt from "Pathways" (World Premiere), and Mark Stuart Dance Theatre - "Interference" (World Premiere). Some of the other dance numbers were "Hexentanz" (Witch Dance) based on the original by Mary Wigman; Houston Ballet - Giselle Pas Dc Deux Act II; Les Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo - "The Dying Swan"; Peter Pucci Plus Dancers - "Surfing;" "The Raven" choreographed by David Fernandez and starting Charles Askegard, Daniel Ulbricht and Savannah Lowery of New York City Ballet and the Tap City Youth Ensemble (a project of the American Tap Dance Foundation) - "Tap Dancing Skeletons." There were also performances by and artists Lynn Cohen, and The Street Beats Group; as well as featured appearances by Tony Award Winner Donna McKechnie; Carmen DeLavallade, Judith Jamison, and Lypsinka.

Celeste Holm. (Rob Rich)

Rolex Watch USA President and CEO Stewart Wicht stated "Rolex is proud to present Career Transition For Dancers' Gala and to give the 2011 Rolex Dance Award to Nigel Lythgoe, co-creator/executive producer of "So You Think You Can Dance' and Executive Producer of "American Idol." The Career Transition For Dancers Awards for Outstanding Contributions to the World of Dance were Victor Elmaleh; Nancy MacMillan; Michele Riggi; National Museum of Dance.

The 26th Anniversary Chairs were Michele Herbert, Anka Palitz and Stewart Wicht; Gala Chairs were Victor Elmaleh, Darlene and Brian Heidtke, Nancy and Duncan MacMillian, Michele and Ronakl Riggi. The Dinner Chair was Janice Becker; Auction Chair Ann Van Ness; and the Journal Chair was Craig Dix. Vice Chairs were Alexander J. Dubé, Mercedes Ellington and Vicki and Christopher Kellogg, Christina Rose, Nicole Sexton and Irene Shen. Honorary Chairs are Robert Battle, Jacques d'Amboise, Marcelo Gomes, Cynthia Gregory, Gelsey Kirkland, Darci Kistler, Angela Lansbury, Natalia Markarova, Peter Martiiis, Donna McKechnie, Liza Minnelli, Jerry Mitchell, Bebe Neuwirth, Sono Osato, David Parsons, Ann Reinking, Chita Rivera, Desmond Richardson, Tommy Tune, Christopher Wheeldon and Karen Ziemba. The show was produced and directed by Ann Marie DeAngelo.

Career Transition For Dancers, with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, has helped over 5,100 professional dancers in 47 states 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 51,000 hours (equivalent to over $5 million) of one-on-one career counseling and program services - at no cost - and has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships for education, entrepreneurial grants, and certification programs. The organization also provides dancers with specialized services including transition seminars and workshops, peer support groups, resource centers, a toll-free national career counseling hotline, a website, and the National Career Network.

Sean Carpentar, Jay Dweck, David Aaron Carpentar and Grace Carpentar. (Rob Rich)

The Caroline & Theodore Newhouse Center for Dancers is located at 165 West 46th Street, Suite 701 (at Broadway - the Actors' Equity Building), NYC 10036. The phone number is 212-764-0172 and the fax is 212-764-0343. In Los Angeles at 5757 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 455, CA; 90036; 323-549-6660 and fax 323-549-6810. In Chicago at Hubbard Street Dance Center, 1147 W Jackson Blvd., IL 60607; 312-666-0234 and fax 312-455-8240.

Sponsors included Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation, Bloomberg, Conde Nast, Sono and Victor Elmakh, Michele and Lawrence Herbert, Nancy and Duncan MacMillan, Dance Magazine and Pointe, Michele and Ronald Riggi, and Cindy and Tom Siisda.