Do you remember that classic scene from All About Eve when smartly dressed Margo Channing (Bette Davis) and her nemesis Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) meet at 21’s as Eve tries to blackmail Margo’s friend (Celeste Holm) in the ladies’ room? Well, if you don’t recall the scene or have never seen the movie, no worries; this time around the meeting in the ladies’ room and the adjourning dining area had nothing to with corruption, blackmail or deceit.
This gathering at Club 21 of concerned women and friends was a luncheon to benefit American Friends of the Rabin Center to raise awareness and support for breast cancer early detection and development of new technologies and equipment. ”Our goal is for awareness of the need for better equipment for breast cancer and earlier detection,” says Executive Director, Joshua Eli Plaut, PhD.
Executive Director, Joshua Eli Plaut,
American Friends of the Rabin Medical Center works with the particular needs of Israeli women in order to bring a decline in their currently higher rate of breast cancer, especially among women under the age of 50. Proceeds from this luncheon benefit the Rabin Fellows Medical Exchange Program and the partial funding of a Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography and research to fight breast cancer at Israel’s Rabin Medical Center—home to the Davidoff Cancer Center—a world class facility whose sole focus is on the treatment and prevention of cancer.
Images courtesy of Edentpr
Pre-luncheon activities included a silent auction with from Eric Javits, Dr. Z Paul Lorenc, Executive Chef Chris Coleman from Petaluma, Edward Tricomi from Warren Tricomi of the Plaza Hotel and more. While guests feasted on divine snapper with a tomato and cream gravy coupled with roasted asparagus and pepper salad, actress Tovah Feldshuh introduced guest speaker author, playwright and screenwriter Delia Ephron. Ephron spoke about her life and how it important it is for women to find and follow their bliss and be in touch with that positive inner voice that always directs you toward your passion. Ephron also spoke about her new novel, The Lion Is In, which explores three women at various crossroads in their lives and their journey to self-acceptance funneled through the lens of a road trip through rural North Carolina.
American Friends of Rabin Medical Center is committed to helping Israel’s Rabin Medical Center of Petah Tikvah fulfill its mission; sustain and expand its facilities with the most advanced technology and equipment by encouraging individual, family, corporate and institutional commitment to the hospital; publicly promoting the hospital; educating the public; encouraging visitation; creating joint ventures with other medical establishments; and by raising funds through a variety of programmatic efforts throughout the United States.
—Staff
Under the aegis and direction of Tina Ramirez, Ballet Hispanico has introduced contemporary Hispanic concert dance to audiences around the world. From works by Vicente Nebrada, and Graciela Daniele to ballets by Anna Sokolow and Talley Beatty, Ballet Hispanico has set a standard for having performance pieces that not only speaks to the Hispanic experience but also explores great innovators in contemporary movement. Since Ramirez’s retirement in 2009, former Ballet Hispanico dancer Eduardo Vilaro has continued the tradition and vision of Tina Ramirez.
Getting young people in the seats for a Peter Fletcher concert has never been a real challenge for his management team. Though the New York Times recently commented on declining youth at what they described as the ‘gray-haired ‘ arts, Fletcher has always had a sizable audience on young people. And its growing.
FR: There was in article in the NY Times that spoke about the decline of young audiences for what they called ‘The gray-haired arts.’ How are you reaching out to younger audiences?
FR: Let’s talk about your world premiere “Diary of a Camino” by Jeremy Gill.
For almost three decades Parsons Dance has been the feel-good modern dance company where organic movement meets an everyman’s approach to concert dance. Season after season artistic director David Parsons has come up with new and innovative ways to distill his choreographic point of view, attracting audiences from a wide demographic.
Fall, recover, contract, release, center, pivot, swing, tilt; are all movements that are a part of the modern dance lexicon. And any seasoned dance aficionado can identify these types of movement in the choreography of modern dance icons, Martha Graham, Pina Bausch, Erik Hawkins, Doris Humphrey, and a slew of other modern dance greats.
Never resting on his laurels, Parsons assiduously searches for movement styles and innovative choreography that speaks to the human condition and the environment. “There are not a lot of huge leg extensions in my work. My work is more about a connection to the earth and the suppleness of the spine which gives my work a more pedestrian feel, making my movement style seem a natural response to music. Although a lot of my ballets are very aerobic, there is a connection to the audience because there is a natural look to my choreography, causing nuanced pieces to seem deceptively streamlined and simple,” details Parsons.
