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FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT—April 19, 2012— The Connecticut Dance School will be holding its second annual “Dance across America” dance-a-thon on Saturday, April 28th, to support the Andréa Rizzo Foundation, an organization that provides dance therapy to children with cancer and special needs. Joining studios across the country, dancers at the Connecticut Dance School will bring their love of dance to children who are less fortunate than they are.

High school students from the school in ballet level 7 have organized the event, creating pledge kits for all 250 of the students, designing sweatshirts, and decorating bulletin boards. The seven student organizers, who come from Westport, Weston, and Fairfield, are hoping to raise $5,000 to be eligible to have a dance therapist from the Foundation work with children at a local public school or hospital. 

The dance-a-thon will run from 11:00 AM until 3:15 PM and will provide dance classes for students ages three to eighteen. Younger children will be dancing with scarves, hula hoops, and wands, while older students will be able to take part in classes in musical theatre, hula, zumba, and hip-hop in addition to the regular ballet classes that all students usually take.

Donations to the “Dance across America” dance-a-thon may be sent to the Connecticut Dance School at 42 Halley Court, Fairfield, Connecticut 06825 or may be given online at http://www.firstgiving.com/DreasDream/connecticut-dance-school-cds-dance-event.

 About the Connecticut Dance School 

The Connecticut Dance School is a not-for-profit 301(c) (3) organization serving the state of Connecticut.  The dance school offers a variety of classes including ballet and modern for students ages 3 through adult.  For more information about the Connecticut Dance School visit www.ctdanceschool.com or call 203-384-2492 or e-mail:  ctdanceschool@aol.com

About the Andréa Rizzo Foundation

The Andréa Rizzo Foundation is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that supports dance therapy for children with cancer and special needs in pediatric hospitals and public schools.  The foundation was started in memory of Andréa Rizzo, a young graduate student in dance therapy, who survived childhood cancer, but was tragically killed by a drunk driver. “Dance across America” is one of many fundraising efforts created by the Andréa Rizzo Foundation.  For more information about the Andréa Rizzo Foundation visit http://dreasdream.org/.

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We are so grateful to Dance Studio Life and Rhee Gold! A portion of the proceeds from these fabulous "Positive Dance Mom Tshirts" will benefit Dréa's Dream pediatric dance therapy program!

Los Angeles, California — The Triumph Charter Academy in Los Angeles, California will house a Dance Across America event to support Dréa's Dream pediatric dance therapy program funded by the Andréa Rizzo Foundation. Students in 6th – 8th grade will compete to raise pledges to support this non-profit organization. Dance teacher, Melissa Obregon Perez will oversee this charity event on January 13, 2012 as all participants dance for this worthy cause.

Macomb, IL— The 4-H Building at 3028 W. Jackson Street  in Macomb, IL will house a Dance Across America event to support Dréa's Dream pediatric dance therapy program funded by the Andréa Rizzo Foundation.  Area dancers, including those from University Dance Theater will compete to raise pledges to support this non-profit organization. Tori Breedlove will oversee this charity event on January 28, 2012 as all participants dance for 8 hours, win prizes and participate in dance classes.

Come out and DROP & SHOP for Dréa's Dream! Andréa Rizzo Foundation teams up with RI Blood Center and ALEX and ANI for a HOLIDAY DROP & SHOP in Providence on December 20th! ALEX and ANI BANGLE BAR and other handmade items sold by our Dréa's Dream participants will benefit Dréa's Dream!

Bethesda, MD—Walter Johnson High School located in Bethesda, has recently pledged their support for the Andréa Rizzo Foundation’s nationwide fundraising effort, “Dance Across America.”

 Students from the Walter Johnson community will compete in their own dance crews to show off their many talents. The charity event, overseen by Principal Mrs. Jenifer Baker, will be on Friday, December 16^th, 2011, where the students participate in a spinoff of MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew”.

“Dance Across America” is one of many fundraising efforts created by the Andréa Rizzo Foundation, a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to bringing dance therapy to children with cancer and special needs in public schools and pediatric hospitals across the country. Created in memory of a young dance therapy graduate student an  d survivor of childhood cancer, killed by a drunk driver at the age of 24, the foundation aspires to bring dancers together to blend dance and compassion. Dancers of all ages in all parts of the country can make a difference in the lives of fragile children by doing what they love best…dancing!

For more information about this event, contact Walter Johnson High School, Principal, Jennifer Baker at shiri.brodsky@gmail.com or call (301) 803-7100.

For more information on the Andréa Rizzo Foundation or the “Dance Across America” program, please call 401-952-2423, e-mail DreasDream@aol.com, or visit www.DreasDream.org.

West Lafayette, Indiana  –Once again, Higher Ground Dance Company of Purdue University has pledged their support for The Andréa Rizzo Foundation’s nationwide fundraising effort, “Dance Across America.” Higher Ground will hold 2 performances to benefit this cause at Loeb Playhouse in Stewart Center on December 10, 2011 at 12pm and 4pm.  Through the Higher Ground dancers’ compassionate support and generosity over the past five years, The Andréa Rizzo Foundation has instituted Dréa’s Dream pediatric dance therapy program at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. For the first time, Riley Hospital for Children is able to offer this healing modality to their patients.

The Andréa Rizzo Foundation provides dance therapy to children with cancer and special needs in pediatric hospitals, public schools and Ronald McDonald Houses throughout the nation and the Higher Ground Dance Company is making a difference for fragile children locally as well.  The Foundation was created in memory of Andréa Rizzo, a special education teacher and dancer who had survived childhood cancer herself.  Andréa had begun her graduate studies in dance therapy at NYU.  Andréa was killed at the age of 24 by a drunk driver.

Through their Dance Across America initiative, the Foundation aspires to bring dancers, both young and old together to blend dance and compassion.  Dancers of all ages in all parts of the country can make a difference in the lives of fragile children by doing what they love best…dancing!    www.DreasDream.org   www.Dance-Across-America.com

Pazazz Performers hosts its second Gala December 4, 2011 at 7:00pm at the Lee Theater on the campus of University of Missouri, St. Louis. Proceeds from the Gala will benefit Drea's Dream, a dance therapy and expressive movement program for children with cancer and special needs, as well as help support and fund Pazazz Performers.

Artistic Director, Kacy Voskuil states, “The Gala is an opportunity for Pazazz to share their art and give back to the local community by raising funds for Drea's Dream. The Gala also gives Pazazz dancers the unique opportunity to headline their own performance on a professional stage.”

Pazazz is thrilled to announce that Big Muddy Dance Company, Common Thread Contemporary Dance Company, Kari James Dance Network, and Tiger Ball Z will be contributing their featured performances at the Pazazz Gala!

The Pazazz Gala is supported by individual contributions and sponsored by, Eureka Sign, Mary Institute Country Day School, Klassy Kickers, Professional Employment Group, The Eye Bar, The Hunkler Family, The Jones Family, The Braunstein Family, and the Bakula Family.  Tickets for the performance are $15.  Available online at www.touhill.org

For more information contact:

Kacy Voskuil, Artistic Director

Emily Anderson, Assistant Director

St. Louis Academy of Dance Pazazz Performers

314-991-1663 

Pazazzgala@gmail.com

The Binghamton Ballroom Dance Association at Binghamton University is supporting The Andréa Rizzo Foundation’s Dance Across America fundraising initiative with a “Date Auction for Ballroom Dance Lessons” on Friday, December 2, 2011 in Lecture Hall 2 at Binghamton University.  Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

Proceeds from this event will benefit Dréa’s Dream pediatric dance therapy program funded by The Andréa Rizzo Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing dance therapy to children with cancer and special needs in pediatric hospitals and public schools across the country.

For further information contact Brea Oliver at boliver1@binghamton.edu or DreasDream@aol.com.

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