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The Giving Tree

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The Giving Tree Festival 2020 is a live dance festival taking place in NYC on March 14, 21 and 22, 2020. The Giving Tree Festival is an annual event founded in 2012 to raise money for charity. This year more than 30 choreographers and 100 dancers including Ashlé Dawson, Emily Bufferd, Breton Tyner-Bryan, Cat Cogliandro and Hayden Frederick are participating in three benefit dance performances. This year The giving Tree will donate proceeds to charities seeking to aid Disaster Relief, Cancer Research, and to combat LGBTQ Homelessness.

 

To donate directly: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-giving-tree-19series-one

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Saturday March 14th, 7:30pm

Ballet Arts at City Center: 130 West 56th Street (6th FL), New York, NY

 

Charity- International Disaster relief and aid

 

Featuring: Ashlé Dawson, BDC Youth Company- AIM, Emily Bufferd, DiSiac Dance Company, Kanon Sapp, Martha Nichols, Rachel Hettinger, Shawn Bible, Shelly Hutchinson, Steps Conservatory Program- Janice Rosario, Teddy Tedholm, The Next Stage Project- Jana Hicks & Marijke Eliasberg, Wes Veldink, Yusaku Komori

 

Ticket Link: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4514279

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Saturday March 21st, 8pm

Manhattan Movement and Arts Center: 248 West 60th St. New York, NY

 

Charity- St Judes/Childhood Cancer research and support

 

Featuring: Cat Cogliandro, Breton Tyner-Bryan, Steven Blandino, Kanyok Arts Initiative, Bekah Joy Howard, Mike Esperanza, KC Castellano, CC & Company, Nijawwon Matthews, Joffrey Ballet School NYC: Jazz & Contemporary Trainee Program- Norbert De La Cruz, Shelly Hutchinson, Gwen Potter, Brinda Guha-Kalamandir Dance Company
 

Ticket Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-giving-tree-2020-series-two-tickets-94182804303

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Sunday March 22nd, 8pm

Broadway Dance Center: 322 West 45th Street, New York, NY

 

Charity-LGBTQ Homelessness and Education

 

Featuring: Barry Kerolis, Brad Walton, Emily Bufferd, Hayden Frederick, Julia Kane, Tracie Stanfield, Brinda Guha-Kalamandir Dance Company

 

Ticket Link: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4535149

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MORE ABOUT THE GIVING TREE

The Giving Tree is a series of annual dance concerts in New York City seeking to raise money for various local and national charities that strive to help those facing adversity. Each year NYC based choreographers and dancers come together for a week of performances to use artistic endeavors for positive social change. Our talented team of over 100 dancers and 45 choreographers are among the best the New York City has to offer, and an audience of over 600 people a season come to enjoy everything from Ballet and Contemporary dance to Hip Hop and Musical Theater. 

 

The Giving Tree was founded in 2012, after Hurricane Sandy hit New York City and vicinity. Producer Shelly Hutchinson quickly gathered a team of 12 artists to create a show to raise money for neighbors affected by the storm. The first Giving Tree Festival raised $8000 and thus began an annual tradition running for nearly a decade involving over 65 choreographers and 500 dancers.

 

The Giving Tree Festival has raised over $80,000 for causes such as:

 

Childhood Cancer

Breast Cancer

LGBTQ Homelessness & Education

Hurricane damage in Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas, New York 

International Education Reform

Lupus Research

Multiple Sclerosis

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MORE ABOUT PRODUCER - SHELLY HUTCHINSON

Shelly Hutchinson is a choreographer, dancer, actress, and producer based in New York City. She has been a choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance Europe, part of creative teams in operas such as Candide, Samson & Delilah and Aida, and choreographer for the stage version of Disney's High School Musical. Her television appearances include MTV, CBS Morning Show, ABC, Saturday Night Live, Law & Order, HBO Miniseries Mildred Pierce, The Today Show, David Letterman, and The Learning Channel. Hutchinson has taught all levels and ages at various performing arts schools and conventions in the US, Germany, Italy, Austria, Prague, Argentina, Japan, Costa Rica, Cirque Du Soleil in Las Vegas. Performing credits include Radio City Music Hall, Warner Brothers Films, Disney, been a back up dancer for Craig Mack, Wyclef Jean and appeared in Lou Bega’s "Mambo #5. Off-Broadway and Regional Theatre, Broadway Bares, National and European Tours including Fame, the Musical, Bye Bye Birdie, Irene, and West Side Story. Hutchinson was assistant choreographer for Falco: a multi-media show in Vienna, Austria based on the late 80's pop star. Hutchinson was the audition choreographer for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as well as a Vince Camuto ad for NYC Fashion Week. She was choreographer for New York Musical Festival production and nominated for “Outstanding Choreography” for Occasion For Sin as part of Planet Connections Theater Festivity. Hutchinson is adjunct professor at Pace University and on faculty at Broadway Dance Center and Peridance in NYC.

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