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Fini Dance Gala

The 9th Annual Fini Dance International Gala and Awards Presentation will take place at 8:00 pm on Thursday, August 15, at the Ailey Citigroup Theater located at 405 West 55 Street (at 9th Avenue) in New York City.  Created by Calabria native, Antonio Pio Fini, the festival showcases artists from the U.S. and Italy. Mr. Fini is a dancer, choreographer and producer who has taught and performed internationally. The event will be hosted by the organization’s co-founder Tabata Caldironi of Milan and Ornella Fado, host of the television show Brindiamo.

The roster of performing dance companies includes New York-based troupes, Alessandra Corona Works, Buglisi Dance Theater and Michael Mao Dance, as well as Giorgia Pia Gatto from Reggio Calabria and Marek Pisanu from Cagliari, Sardinia.

Christina Giannini will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for her years of outstanding costume design; the Extraordinary Dance Award will be presented to Katherine Crockett, former member of the Martha Graham Dance Company and the Rising Star Award will go to Maria Vittoria Villa. Past recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award are Luigi, Edward Villella, Alessandra Corona, Alessandra Ferri, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Terese Capucilli, Marie Lorene Fichaux and Petra Conti.

The Gala and Award event is the grand finale of the Fini Dance Summer Intensives, which are held annually in Italy and New York City. Tickets are priced at $40; $20 for students and seniors and $90 for attendance of the performance and cast party. To make reservations, go to www.eventbrite.com.