Liza Minnelli, Jerry Mitchell, Andy Blankenbuehler and More Set for NYCDA Gala, 9/5

On Wednesday, September 5 at 7:30pm at NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place), dance icon Mikhail Baryshnikov will be honored at the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation's "Bright Lights Shining Stars" Gala where he will receive their prestigious Ambassador for the Arts Award which will be presented to him by longtime friend and colleague Liza Minnelli. Last year's Ambassador for the Arts Award recipient, celebrated American singer, songwriter, musician and four-time Grammy-winner Roberta Flack, will also be present on 9/5. Also set to appear that evening will be ABT star Julie Kent, Oscar-nominee and celebrated dancer Leslie Browne and Tony Award-winning choreographers Jerry Mitchell and Andy Blankenbuehler.

This exciting star-studded evening of song and dance will serve as a fundraiser for the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation and will include performances from the Broadway and dance communities. Currently slated to perform on 9/5 are American Ballet Theatre (Sarah Lane & Luis Ribagorda), NEW YORK CITY BALLET (Tiler Peck & Robert Fairchild), BALLET HISPANICO and THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLET. The Honorary Co-Chairs for the event are Robin Cofer and Cassandra Seidenfeld and the evening is directed by Joe Lanteri.

The evening begins at 6pm with a pre-show cocktail reception, with the awards gala taking place at 7:30pm and a VIP after party to follow at 9pm. The Ambassador for the Arts Award will also feature a special dance tribute to Baryshnikov and will include a donation to the Baryshnikov Arts Center as well as scholarship recognition for deserving teenage student dancers from across the United States. Since its inception in 2010, over 100 talented teenagers have benefitted from $5 MILLION + in college scholarships awarded through NYCDAF and its College Partners.

A limited number of tickets are available to public and can be purchased by phone at 855-692-5678 or online at http://bit.ly/BrightLightsShiningStars. VIP tickets are priced at $350 (which includes pre and post show receptions and Orchestra seating for the gala), additional tickets are priced at $175 (which includes a ticket to the pre-show reception and a seat to the gala) and $50 (for a balcony seat to the gala).