Dancers Responding To AIDS Receive A Special Benefit In Return

Monroe Dance Company performs for many benefits as well as the Leeway House, an AIDS hospital in New Haven. The company, which features dancers from Monroe and surrounding towns, was thanked for recent efforts to help others with a special master class with Elizabeth Parkinson.

In February 2006 the dance company was invited to participate in DRA Dance Invitational, a benefit performance at Purchase College. On April 23, the performance included over 125 young dancers from across Fairfield and Westchester counties, along with The Purchase Dance Corps and members of Parsons Dance Company. The one-night event raised money for Dancers Responding to AIDS (DRA), a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA).

Ten dance companies participated in the performance, which was an expression of solidarity among young artists ages 10 to 18  in response to those in need. Money raised by the dancers will not only support performing artists nationwide but will bring continued support to the BC/EFA National Grants Program.

Monroe Dance Academy’s contribution to the invitational, in addition to performing, was to sell tickets to the event. All proceeds went to DRA.

In May  the company held a Dance A Thon at Monroe Congregational Church, again with all proceeds going to DRA. These young dancers and their families raised $6,200.

In recognition of their efforts, DRA sent Elizabeth Parkinson, Tony Award winner for her performance in the Broadway show Movin Out, to teach two master classes at Monroe Dance Academy on August 27. One class was for the junior company and one for the senior company. Company members range from 8-18 years of age.

Company members from Newtown are Jackie Buda, Olivia Carbonell, Rebecca Cash, Jamie Chard, Naomi Childs, Rebecca Oberstadt, Cailee Tallon, Alexandra Vetrano, Alyssa Vetrano, Christina Zuccarello. The dance studio is located in Tollgate Plaza, 838 Main Street in Monroe.