Dance for Life a tribute to Giordano

Dance for Life Chicago celebrated its 17th year anniversary Aug. 23. at the Harris Theatre for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph. The event benefited the Dance for Life Fund, a fund created to assist members of the dance community who are living with HIV/AIDS.

Photos by Kat Fitzgerald; see more images at www.MysticImagesPhotography.com

Prior to the Dance for Life Performance at the Harris Theatre, attendees convened at the Millennium Rooftop Terrace for the Red Ribbon Gala Reception. The reception was held under a white tent; a heat wave kept patrons in line for drinks to find some cool relief.

WGN-TV entertainment reporter Dean Richards has hosted Dance for Life since its inception, and welcomed guests in a comedic video segment filmed around Cloud Gate in Millennium Park gyrating to Salt-N-Pepa’s ‘Push It’ in front of pedestrians, tourists and a nun. When he finally made his way to the stage he was followed by the nun as his pants dropped to his knees. Half-exposed, he reached the podium and said, ‘With how hot it is outside, I’m the only one appropriately dressed tonight.’

The entire show was dedicated to the memory of legendary American jazz dancer and founder Gus Giordano, who died March 9 at the age of 84. Richards said, ‘Every year, Gus would always make fun of me for not getting his name right. I got it right this time, Gus.’

The grand finale was choreographed by internationally renowned choreographer Randy Duncan, and was performed by a dancers (from different troupes) dressed in red to the tune of the Alicia Keys song ‘No One.’ The Joffrey Ballet, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, and Thodos Dance Company donated their talent to the evening’s cause.

The four Chicago agencies selected as beneficiaries of the 2008 Dance for Life fund are: AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Howard Brown Health Center, Chicago Recovery Alliance and The Night Ministry.