FOCUS ON THE ARTS: NJ group co-sponsors benefit performances of Donetsk Ballet (10/29/00)

FOCUS ON THE ARTS

NJ group co-sponsors benefit performances of Donetsk Ballet

MIDLAND PARK, N.J. - JulieDance, a non-profit organization comprising students from Miss Patti's School of Dance in Midland Park, is co-sponsoring three special children's cancer benefit performances with the internationally acclaimed Donetsk Ballet from Ukraine.

The special holiday performances of "Don Quixote" will be held Saturday, December 2, at 7:30 p.m., (with a reception to follow the performance); and two performances of "The Nutcracker," to be held on Sunday, December 3, at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. All performances will be held at Paramus Catholic High School (opposite Bergen Community College) in Paramus, N.J.

Last year's Bergen County performances received notable reviews by The New York Times and Washington Post.

JulieDance was founded three years ago in memory of Julie Elizabeth Vigon by her parents, Patti and Darryl Vigon, owners of Miss Patti's School of Dance. Julie was a promising young ballerina who distinguised herself as a student with The School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center and as a performer in the children's repertoire of many New York City Ballet productions.

In the summer of 1983 Julie attended the Ukrainian Dance Camp, under the direction of Roma Pryma Bohachevsky, held in Glen Spey, N.Y. (The only videotape of Julie dancing was taken at that camp). Julie died of Ewing sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, at the age of 12 in June 1985.

As a non-profit charitable organization, JulieDance is dedicated both to encouraging appreciation for and participation in dance and music, and to supporting the efforts of those who treat and research childhood cancer. To date, JulieDance has contributed $50,000 to five different organizations for pediatric cancer care, treatment and research. The December 3 performance will benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded by entertainer Danny Thomas.

Leading the Donetsk Ballet in this season's performance will be two international stars of ballet, Vadim Pisarev and his wife, Inna Dorofeyeva. They will be joined by 16 Donetsk ballet company dancers. Mr. Pisarev, the company's artistic director and principal dancer, is a five-time gold medal winner (United States, Russia [two times], Soviet Union and France), and was honored as "Male Dancer of the Year" in the Soviet Union in 1989.

More than 100 ballet students from Miss Patti's School of Dance will be joining the Donetsk Ballet in the exciting, fun and challenging "Nutcracker" roles of party children, soldiers, mice, polichinelles, dolls, snowflakes, flowers and marzipans. In addition, advanced ballet students from the school will augment the renowned Donetsk Ballet performance of "Don Quixote."

For tickets or information, call (201) 670-4422. Ticket prices are $30, $35, and $40; group discounts are available.

| Home Page |