The Stars of New York Dance competition is not your usual competitive dance show.
The stars are celebrities you often rub elbows with on the train and the professional dancers may have witnessed your skills in tights once upon a time.
Unlike ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, there are no true losers in The Stars of New York Dance; the charitable dance competition includes a grand prize of $5,000 but also awards $1,000 to each participating competitor.
In its sixth year of production, the charitable dance competition was created in an effort to provide underserved children with the opportunity to attend dance classes.
According to their website, “The Stars of New York Dance seeks to challenge and overcome the negative effects that plague children in need from underserved New York City neighborhoods.”
This year, the participating stars include Deputy Borough President Diana Reyna, Rev. David Brawley, Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook, Joseph C. Grant, Audrey Edwards, Horace Moore, Michelle McClymont, and Charles Cooper.
The distinguished leaders are paired with local dancers who head dance schools and programming — the funds received will gift instructors such as Karisma Jay of AbunDance Academy of the Arts and Kevin McEwen of Asase Yaa School of the Arts with the means to provide scholarships to students.
“Support for the arts is often considered expendable, but we know the power of the arts to transform lives. By providing children from low-income communities with access to innovative arts programming and curriculum, they have access to a creative and constructive means of self-expression that builds character and are ensured a brighter future with boundless opportunities,” the website states.
The event will be hosted by Errol Louis of NY1 and will also honor Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams for his three decades of public service.
The Stars of New York Dance (The Kumble Theater in Long Island University 1 University Plaza, Downtown Brooklyn, www.thest
