Gala - Vive la Danse 25 - October 26, 2011, Toronto

On October 26th, 2011 at the Fairmont Royal York, Sheila McCarthy and Geraint Wyn Davies hosted Vive la Danse 25 - a dynamic evening of entertainment and epicurean treats to mark the DTRC’s 25 triumphant years.  Throughout the evening, performances featured Canadian superstars from dance, music and theatre including: dance luminaries Aleksandar Antonijevic, Guillaume Côté, Greta Hodgkinson, Heather Ogden, Laurence Lemieux, Bharatanatyam dancer Atri Nundy, and the urban Gadfly Dance Company; musical icons John McDermott, Dave Young, and Jackie Richardson; and stage stars' piano man David Warrack, Stratford Festival’s Robin Hutton, and Billy Elliot’s Kate Hennig.  We are thrilled that these incredibly talented artists have donated their time and talent to be a part of this scintillating evening in support of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre.

The grande finale of the evening featured 13 DTRC alumni who told their remarkable stories of transition into a wide array of successful second careers.  Erin Richardson, an Emergency Registered Vet Technician, Dion MacArthur, a Case Manager for Veterans Affairs Canada, Jennifer Fournier, in her fourth year at University of Toronto majoring in International Relations, and Philip Drube, in his second year Master of Osteophathic Manipulative Sciences at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy were among the 13 who represented over 10,000 dancers who have been supported by the DTRC during its 25 years.

The evening also included the unveiling of our inspiring 25th Anniversary souvenir book, 25 Transitions, which celebrates a variety of new beginnings - from those just beginning their dance careers, to those who have embraced life beyond the stage. The book is beautifully designed by DTRC alumna Brenda Little, who graduated as Valedictorian of her class at George Brown College.

Produced by the team who brought you Vive la Danse! at the Palais Royale, Veronica Tennant and Peter Mak, this breathtaking evening of dance, song, and revelry in the legendary Imperial Room at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel was one to remember!