Mikhail Baryshnikov, Andy Blankenbuehler, Liza Minnelli, Jerry Mitchell Set for Bright Lights Shining Stars Gala
(© Annie Leibovitz)
The NYC Dance Alliance Foundation will hold itsBright Lights Shining Stars Gala, September 5 at 7:30pm at NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.
Dance icon Mikhail Baryshnikov will be honored with the Ambassador for the Arts Award, which will be presented to him by friend and colleague Liza Minnelli. The presentation of the award will also include a dance tribute to Baryshnikov and include a donation to the Baryshnikov Arts Center.
The evening will feature performances by Sarah Lane and Luis Ribagorda of American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet’s Tiler Peck and Robert Fairchild, as well as members of Ballet Hispanico and The Suzanne Farrell Ballet. Tony Award-winning choreographers Jerry Mitchell and Andy Blankenbuehler will also be on hand, as well dancer Leslie Browne and American Ballet Theatre star Julie Kent. The evening is directed by Joe Lanteri.
Baryshnikov served for 10 years as artistic director of American Ballet Theatre and was director of the White Oak Dance Project, which he co-founded with choreographer Mark Morris. In 2005, he opened the Baryshnikov Arts Center, a creative home for local and international artists to develop and present work. Among Mr. Baryshnikov’s many awards are the National Medal of Honor, the Commonwealth Award, the Chubb Fellowship, the Jerome Robbins Award, and the 2012 Vilcek Award. In 2010 he was given the rank of Officer of the French Legion of Honor.
