The Fire Island Dance Festival is a cultural event that showcases the performing arts for charity. This year, the festival will take place July 14-16 in Fire Island Pines, NY. Not only does this festival have three days of stunning performances it raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity.
Nicole Loizides from MOMIX performing at Fire Island Dance in 2008.
Smoldering Charity
It wouldn’t be a Fire Island Dance Festival without a heavy dose of generosity from the dance community. Festival attendees donate money to support people throughout the United States suffering from acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Their generous donations help people in need get medicine, food, emergency assistance, and more! Last year alone, the festival raised $560,133, and since its beginning in 1995, the Fire Island Dance Festival has gathered $4.8 million! And it’s all for charity!
An Inferno of Talent
This year, the line-up of performances making their way to Fire Island Pines includes several highly acclaimed dance companies from all over the world. Some of the performers that will be there in July include Acosta Danza, Caleb Teicher & Company; EVIDENCE, A Dance Company; Makers Dance Company; Miami City Ballet; Peridance Contemporary Dance Company; Pontus Lidberg Dance; and choreographers Al Blackstone, Lorin Latarro and Manuel Vignoulle. It’s a Broadway line-up!
New York City Ballet principal ballerina Wendy Whelan and soloist Craig Hall performing at Fire Island in 2012.
Performances Ablaze
With all these incredible dancers and choreographers in one place, you can expect some must-see performances. Caleb Teicher & Company will perform Meet Ella, a swing routine set to live recordings of Ella Fitzgerald. EVIDENCE is set to premiere a piece that brings African dance and contemporary storytelling together in a masterpiece of choreographic genius. These and more will happen bayside on the #fidance stage.
A Spark of Opportunity
Attending the Fire Island Dance Festival is an experience like no other. There are few places where this much incredible talent can be experienced! And, you can make the world a better place at the same time. Find tickets for this bonfire of dance as well as more dancey details at dradance.org.