Jazz Teacher Luigi Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at Italian International Dance Festival Gala Tonight

Announcing the first annual Italian International Dance Festival, which will bring together dancers, companies and choreographers from Italy and America in a spirit of exchange and collaboration, with a Gala Performance tonight, March 22, 7:30 PM, at Julia Richman Theater, 317 East 67th Street. Tickets: $20. Reservations: www.italianidf.com or 646.387.8979.

The evening, hosted by Tabata Caldironi, will feature companies from Italy as well as American-based groups directed by Italian artists. With support from organizations in Italy and the U.S., the Italian International Dance Festival is an exchange between artists from the new and old worlds - a "abbraccio dell'arte" (embrace of art), where the cultures intercept, exchange, and experiment through the art of dance.

Participating artists for the March 22nd Gala:
** Atzewi Dance Company from Modena
** Aconcoli Dance di Elena Albano from Milan
** Mare Nostrum Elements, NY-based, co-directed by Nicola Iervasi of Calabria, former dancer with the Martha Graham Ensemble
** Michael Mao Dance, NY-based, in an excerpt from his "Requiem" by Giuseppe Verdi, whose 200th birth anniversary this year is being celebrated around the world
**Staten island Ballet in a work that celebrates Italy
**Talent Unlimited High School in a Tarantella by Nicola Iervasi
** appearance by Laura Caparrotti of Rome, director of the NY-based Kairos Italy
Theater
** a work by Luigi, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award

The Gala will also include the presentation of the "IIDF A Heart for Art" Lifetime Achievement Award, to New York's illustrious father of Jazz Dance, Luigi.

"IIDF A Heart For Art" Teacher Award, to Elena Albano of Milan, given by director of the Martha Graham Center, Virginie Mecene. The Award honors Doctor Albano for her illustrious career teaching modern dance at the Centro Studi Coreografici Carcano Theater in Milan.

IIDF "A Heart for Art" Bridge Award, will go to Sasà Di Donna for being an ambassador of American Jazz Dance in Italy and as a TV dancer and choreographer to have brought this technique in the homes of the Italians.

The awards are offered by the jeweler Franco Pianegonda of Vicenza Italy.

The Italian International Dance Festival is presented by the group TAG; the artistic vision of Antonio Pio Fini, the creative direction of Tabata Caldironi and production of Gianluca Blandi. With generous assistance the Mare Nostrum Elements, Michael Mao Dance and Talent Unlimited. Kind support of the Italian Institute of Culture, Kit-Kairos Italy Theater, University of Calabria, the City Hall of Villapiana. The generous support of the jeweler Franco Pianegonda, The Stylists Azzurra di Lorenzo and Mario Dice, Coppelia Italian dancewear, the fashion photographer Marcel Ragonese, MP Model Management in Milan and Pizzeria Numero 28 (NYC).

For more information, visit www.italianidf.com.