This year's Fire Island Dance Festival raised record-breaking funds of $700,572 to benefit Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program within Broadway Cares. Fire Island's longest-running cultural event was hosted by Tony and Olivier winner Alan Cumming, and featured performances by beloved Broadway choreographers and six world premiere performances.
Choreographer and The Lion King alum Ray Mercer presented the world premiere of Love is Luv!, a dance piece celebrating love in all forms. It was danced by Meredith Harrill, Rayan Lecurieux-Durival, Olivier Medus, William Roberson, Dylan Santos and Scott Willits.
Choreographer Skyla Schreter presented the pas de deux Momento Mori, danced by New York City Ballet soloist Ashley Hod and former Philadelphia Ballet member Craig Wasserman.
Dancer and political activist Ahmad Joudeh danced his original piece Layl (Night), which combined balletic movement with the folk traditions of the Sufi circle.
Associate director and choreographer for Broadway Bares Jonathan Lee made his Fire Island Festival choreography debut with Showdown, a celebration of 50 years of hip-hop through an old-school dance battle. The performance featured Yusaku Komori, Wayne “Juice” Mackins and Gabriel Reyes.
In collaboration with The Joyce Theatre and featuring a performance by critically acclaimed musician serpentwithfeet, A Strange Loop choreographer Raja Feather Kelly presented Heart of Brick, a piece exploring the pitfalls of nightlife culture and emotionally unavailable men. It was danced by Shaquelle Charles, Dylan Contreras, Justin Daniels, Chrystion Dudley, Nelson “Nellie” Enrique Mejia Jr., and Brandon Gray.
Throughout the weekend, three panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt were on display, honoring those who passed away from complications of the virus. It featured tributes to Fire Island community member Robert Freedman, as well as Christopher Gillis and Jeff Wadlington, whose deaths marked the inception of Dancers Responding to AIDS.
Since its debut in 1995, Fire Island Dance Festival has raised more than $7.7 million to help provide medication, nutritious meals, counseling, and emergency financial assistance to those in need in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.
For more information, visit Dancers Responding to AIDS at DRADance.org.
