PHOTO FLASH: Marcelo Gomes, Damian Smith, Yuan Yuan Tan, Travis Wall at Fire Island Dance Festival

The Fire Island Dance Festival (FIDF) was held on July 17-18, in Fire Island Pines at the home of Jon Biondo, Tim Horman and Ryan Coutu. The benefit raised $253,000 for Dancers Responding to AIDS (DRA), a program of Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS. Bruce Vilanch served as host.

This Festival included performances by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre principal Marcelo Gomes, Joffrey Ballet Chicago principals Fabrice Calmels and Erica Lynette Edwards, Mark Stuart Dance Theatre and San Francisco Ballet principals Yuan Yuan Tan and Damian Smith performing choreography by Christopher Wheeldon. FIDF 16 also showcased a pièce d’occasion by Shea Sullivan, a “Legacy Tour” performance by Merce Cunningham Dance Company, and a performance by MOMIX.

DRA offered choreographic sponsorships to foster the creation of new dance works, resulting in debuts by Stephen Petronio Company, Travis Wall, Camille A. Brown, and Andrea Miller’s Gallim Dance.

For further information, visit: www.dradance.org.