Fire Island Dance Festival Fifteen to be hosted by Emmy Award winner Bruce Vilanch

July 2, 2009 - PRLog -- Lauded by Out Magazine, The New York Times, CBS News on LOGO and The Village Voice, the Fire Island Dance Festival returns to Fire Island Pines for a trio of outdoor party / performances on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, 2009. Now in its 15th year, the Fire Island Dance Festival is the premier cultural event on Fire Island and is produced by and benefits Dancers Responding to AIDS (DRA), a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Performing outdoors against a backdrop of the Great South Bay, FIDF 15 will feature an eclectic program of classical and contemporary ballet, modern dance, and hip hop performed by twelve emerging and world renowned dance companies. This year's Festival proves to be yet another unforgettable event showcasing the world's leading dance companies and artists including Keigwin + Company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet with premiere dances by Armitage Gone! Dance, Danny Tidwell, Jodi Melnick, Feliciano Dance Company, ZviDance and a piece d’occasion by choreographer Christopher Huggins all performed against the stunning backdrop of The Great South Bay. The performances will be hosted by two time Emmy Award winning writer / actor Bruce Villanch.

Dancegoers are offered a choice of show times. The opening performance is on Saturday, July 18th at 5:00 p.m. (party at 4:00 p.m.). The sunset performance is on Saturday, July 18th at 7:00 p.m. (party following). And the closing performance is on Sunday, July 19th at 5:00 p.m. (party following). Leadership Sponsors are included in the special kick-off celebration on Friday evening July 17th at the Albert Lepage Pavillion at Whyte Hall; the Fire Island Pines Community Center.

To charge tickets by phone, call 212.840.0770 x268 - Monday through Friday and on weekends in the Fire Island Pines harbor or order online at www.dradance.org.

Corporate Sponsors for Fire Island Dance Festival 15 include: The New York Times, Continental Airlines, Absolut Vodka, GRW Advertising, Masterbeat.com, The Monster, NEXT Magazine, PEEQ Media, BV Wines, and Movmnt Magazine

Community Sponsors for Fire Island Dance Festival 15 include: Fire Island News, Pines Bistro and Martini Bar, Sayville Ferry Service, and Tony’s Barge.

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Founded in 1991, by former Paul Taylor dancers Denise Roberts Hurlin and Hernando Cortez, Dancers Responding to AIDS (DRA) is a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre & dance communities, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes and other critical illnesses across the United States. Since its founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $150 million dollars for critically needed services for people with AIDS and other serious illnesses. BC/EFA is the major supporter of seven programs at The Actors Fund - including The AIDS Initiative, The Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative, The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, The Dancers’ Resource and three supportive housing residences. BC/EFA also awards annual grants to over 400 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide.