Musical Numbers Added To Career Transition For Dancers 26th Anniv Jubilee

Rolex presents A HALLOWEEN THRILLER A Dance Celebration of Ghosts, Ghouls, Vampires & Wilis, - Career Transition For Dancers' 26th Anniversary Jubilee on Monday, October 31, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the newly renovated New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (btwn. 6th and 7th Ave) NYC. Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth with some former Bob Fosse dancers will open the program with "Magic To Do" from Pippin, to be followed by the National Dance Institute and other children performing Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Noah Racey and The New York Song & Dance Company will perform the classic Cole Porter number "I've Got You Under My Skin."

Chita Rivera will host this one-night-only entertainment extravaganza for kids and adults of all ages! Regarded as an American National Treasure, Chita is one of Broadway's most accomplished and versatile dancer/actress/singers. This thrilling show will astonish with fun and spine-tingling works in an array of styles from some of America's greatest dance companies and Broadway - woven together in a "spook-tacular" celebration of dance. Some of the other dance numbers* to be performed include: "Hexentanz" (Witch Dance) based on the original by Mary Wigman; Houston Ballet - GisellePas De Deux Act II; Les Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo - "The Dying Swan"; Peter Pucci Plus Dancers - "Surfing"; "The Raven" choreographed by David Fernandez and starring Charles Askegard, Daniel Ulbricht and Savannah Lowery of New York City Ballet and the Tap City Youth Ensemble (a project of the American Tap Dance Foundation) - "Tap Dancing Skeletons". There will also be performances by artists* from American Repertory Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Lynn Cohen, Mark Stuart Dance Theatre, MOMIX ,and The Street Beats Group; as well as feature appearances* by Tony Award Winner Donna McKechnie; as well as Carmen DeLavallade, Judith Jamison, and Lypsinka.

Rolex Watch USA President & CEO Stewart Wicht stated "Rolex is proud to present Career Transition For Dancers' Gala and to give the 2011 Rolex Dance Award to Mr. Nigel Lythgoe, co-creator/executive producer of "So You Think You Can Dance" and Executive Producer of "American Idol."Career Transition For Dancers Awards for Outstanding Contributions to the World of Dance will be presented to Victor Elmaleh; Nancy MacMillan; Michele Riggi; National Museum of Dance.

The 26th Anniversary Chairs are Michele Herbert, Anka K. Palitz and Stewart Wicht; Gala Chairs are: Victor Elmaleh, Darlene & Brian Heidtke, Nancy & Duncan MacMillian, Michele & Ronald Riggi. The Dinner Chair is Janice Becker; Auction Chair is Ann Van Ness; and the Journal Chair is Craig Dix. Vice Chairs are Alexander J. Dubé, Mercedes Ellington, Vicki & Christopher Kellogg, Christina Rose, Nicole Sexton and Irene Shen. Honorary Chairs are Robert Battle, Jacques d'Amboise, Marcelo Gomes, Cynthia Gregory, Gelsey Kirkland, Darci Kistler, Angela Lansbury, Natalia Markarova, Peter Martins, Donna McKechnie, Liza Minnelli, Jerry Mitchell, Bebe Neuwirth, Sono Osato, David Parsons, Ann Reinking, Chita Rivera, Desmond Richardson, Tommy Tune, Christopher Wheeldon & Karen Ziemba. The show is produced and directed by Ann Marie DeAngelo.