IMAGINE Benefit
SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 - 6:30 pm
LaGuardia High School Concert Hall
65th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, New York City
More than 150 NDI dancers took to the stage for a one-time-only encore performance of Imagine: A Celebration of John Lennon to benefit National Dance Institute
and celebrate
LaGuardia High School's
25th Anniversary. Star of stage and screen Cloris Leachman reprised her role in "A Cloris Line," which included a special cameo appearance by NDI Founder Jacques d'Amboise.
Attendees included Yoko Ono, Harry Belafonte, Allegra Kent, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Tom Hulce, and Deputy White House Social Secretary Joe Reinstein.
Benefit supporters attended receptions before and after the performance at PJ Clarke's Lincoln Center; LaGuardia High School; the Penthouse at 459 West 18th street (Courtesy of Alloy Development); and the home of Valerie and Charles Diker.
Yoko Ono at NDI's Imagine Benefit
NDI dancers were thrilled to meet Yoko Ono who came backstage after the performance of IMAGINE. Ono shared stories about John Lennon, answered questions and posed for photos with the children. The dancers presented Yoko with the wishes of hundres of NDI children that will be delivered to the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER, an outdoor work of art conceived by Yoko Ono in memory of John Lennon on Viðey Island in Reykjavík, Iceland. Yoko’s parting words to the children were, “John would have loved this.”
Leadership Committee
Liz Hinden, Chair
Barbara Fedida Brill
I.B. Charneau
Lauren Cramer
Edith Fassberg
Babe Rizzuto
Pam Smilow
Rhana Tabouchirani
Tracy Straus
Ellen Weinstein
This performance has been generously supported by
A division of
Conair® Corporation
and
Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation/
Arnold Penner and Larry Perse
Donations of food and beverages provided by:
Butterfield Market, Bryant Park Grill, Toloache Bistro Mexicano, Akai Lounge, Telepan Restaurant, Hudson Yards, City Bakery, Zyr Vodka and George Wine Importers.