Get on the floor and join us on Sunday June 12, 2011 from 4 until 8 p.m. for Mad Hot Ballroom Pittsburgh, our first fundraiser for Dancing Classrooms Pittsburgh at The Westin Convention Center (hotel), Pittsburgh.
Treat yourself to an entertaining evening of ballroom dance, cocktails, a buffet dinner, silent auction, and special performances by students from Pittsburgh Linden K-5, champions of Dancing Classrooms Pittsburgh 2010-11 Colors of the Rainbow.
Most importantly, you’ll take the lead in helping Pittsburgh children.
Pierre Dulaine, founding director, Dancing Classrooms (©2009 Archie Carpenter)
We’re honored that Mr. Pierre Dulaine, international ballroom champion, Broadway performer, and founding director of Dancing Classrooms, will serve as master of ceremonies.
In addition to his impressive dance repertoire, Dulaine’s influence extended into film with the release of the 2005 documentary Mad Hot Ballroom, an inspiring look inside the lives of children on a journey into the world of ballroom dancing. His teaching experience in New York City schools was also the inspiration for the 2006 film, Take The Lead, starring Antonio Banderas as Dulaine.
You’ll be inspired to try a few moves of your own when Dulaine offers an informal and lively group dance lesson for everyone in attendance at Mad Hot Ballroom Pittsburgh.
In what is sure to be a highlight of the evening, six couples — none of whom are professional dancers — will compete before a panel of celebrity judges. These brave folks, representing event sponsors, are undergoing eight weeks of ballroom dance lessons from Dancing Classrooms teaching artists Terry and Rozana Sweeney at Art & Style Dance Studio.
Dance instruction, which began in April, is following the curriculum we use to teach fifth-graders in Mercy Behavioral Health’s in-school program.
On June 12, these newly trained dancers will show how well they’ve learned to Merengue, Foxtrot, Rumba, Swing, and Tango — all in support of Dancing Classrooms Pittsburgh:
- Patrick Flynn and Lisa Florian, representing Riverset Credit Union.
- Stephen and Melissa Goda, representing Lamar Outdoor Advertising.
- Jeff and Julia Igims representing Pittsburgh Public Schools.
- Leland and Amber Koehler, representing McAuley Ministries, part of Pittsburgh Mercy Health System.
- Marcus Poindexter and Kathy Dozzi representing Tobacco Free Allegheny.
- Anthony Venturino and Elizabeth Graham representing Community Care Behavioral Health/UPMC Health Plan.
Our panel of celebrity judges for the ballroom dance competition includes:
- Ian Rosenberger, director, emerging media and business development for Strategic Images and contestant on CBS Survivor: Palau
- Tall Cathy, radio personality, 96.1 KISS
- Virginia Montanez aka “PittGirl,” humor columnist and blogger, http://thatschurch.com/ and http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com
Your support will help Mercy Behavioral Health expand Dancing Classrooms Pittsburgh and allow more children to benefit from our program in the 2011-12 school year.
Individual tickets for Mad Hot Ballroom Pittsburgh are $75, and patron tickets are $150.
Buy tickets online here.
For more information, visit the special events page of Dancing Classrooms Pittsburgh’s blog.
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I want to be the demo model when Pierre teaches the lesson. Pick me! Pick me! I can’t wait for this fabtastic event! Congratulations to everyone for your hard work and dedication to such a great cause!
Well, we’ll see what can be arranged. No matter, the group dance lesson that Pierre leads is great fun, even for people with two left feet. Thanks for your support of Dancing Classrooms Pittsburgh and we’ll look forward to seeing you on Sunday.