Pennsylvania Ballet and MANNA - 6abc Loves the Arts
Once a year, dancers from the Pennsylvania Ballet give the gift of dance, performing to raise money for MANNA, a non-profit that provides nutritious meals to people suffering from life threatening illnesses.
It's called Shut Up and Dance and the ballet started the fundraiser 23 years ago when the AIDS epidemic was raging and the company wanted to do something to help.
"In one night you're going to see you know up to 12 different pieces," explains Ian Hussey, Producing Director of Shut up and Dance and Principal Dancer with the Pennsylvania Ballet, "you're going to see pieces that are like really comedic and funny and you're going to see ones that are more serious.
Manna is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. CEO Susan Daugherty says, "We're about making a difference in people's lives through nourishment."
The non-profit's initial mission was to comfort people dying of AIDS but the organization has broadened its reach. "We do 11 different diet modifications. Last year we served over 67 different illnesses," Daugherty says, "Right now we're serving about 750 individuals, about 65,000 meals a month to get the medicine that they need for their diet."
Manna's success is thanks in large part to its many volunteers, and that includes the dancers of the Pennsylvania Ballet.
"You have dancers in the company who are taking their free time, lunch breaks, weekends, to you know choreograph something for the program," says Hussey.
Last year the event raised over $130,000 and, this year, the dancers hope to raise even more.
"Back in the day we were providing more comfort care; now we are here to help people live. And Shut Up and Dance truly celebrates that," says Daugherty, "People really leave really feeling energized, really feeling inspired knowing that they have this great performance but that they're making a difference is so many lives."
Shut Up and Dance is at 8pm on March 21st at the Forrest Theatre.
For tickets go to www.mannapa.org/shut-up-and-dance-2015.
