Eva Ryan Block Benefit Dance Performance

On Saturday January 21, 2012 Eva Ryan Block, age 21, of Woodbridge, CT., passed away tragically in a house fire in Poughkeepsie, NY. She is survived by her parents, Jeffrey Block and Barbara Stark Block and siblings, Hannah and Harrison Block. She graduated from Amity High School. She was an honor student attending Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY., majoring in fashion design. Eva 
was a life long ballet student studying from age four until age 18.

Those of us who knew and loved Eva from her ballet years were inspired to hold this event to raise funds to honor her mother Barbara's request to create a scholarship in her name that will be awarded to a child  in the greater community who dreams of dancing but otherwise would not be afforded the opportunity and thus keep Eva's memory alive by giving the gift of dance to another.

This elegant benefit will feature performances by Michaela DePrince from the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theater. Miss DePrince was recently featured on Dancing With The Stars and is one of the stars of the film "First Position" in theaters now.  She will be performing the "Bridesmaid’s Variation from Don Quixote", "Paquita Variation #1" and the "Gamzatti Variation from La Bayadere"

In addition to dancing, she will be greeting her fans in the lobby during intermission and signing copies of the June issue of Teen Vogue which features an article about her . These signed copies will be sold for $10 each to further benefit the fund. 

Two dancers from Huntsville Ballet Company, Abby Callahan and Kagen Morring, will help celebrate and honor the life of Eva Ryan Block. Ms. Block was a former student of Mr. Phillip Otto, Artistic Director of Huntsville Ballet, and Rachel Butler, School Director of Huntsville Ballet School.Mr. Otto will accompany the Huntsville Company dancers who are flying in specially to perform the White Swan Pas De Deux at the benefit.

Singer ,songwriter Amanda Kaletsky will be performing. Amanda has opened for ColdPlay and her music has been feautured on So You Think You Can Dance among other programs.

Also performing  will  be the New England Ballet School and Company and soloists Haley Altman-Cipot and Jared Mesa, New Haven Ballet Company Members and Alumni. The Starship Dance Company among others. Also, Joanne Whitehill will be in attendance.

There will be a Silent Auction and a Cupcake Sale. The cupcake sale is sponsored by the Amity Culinary classes. Doors will open at 6:00 with bidding on the Silent Auction beginning at 6:15.

 This is going to be an unforgettable event the like of which doesn't often occur in CT. with all proceeds benefitting the Eva Ryan Block Ballet Scholarship fund. Tickets are $25 per adult and $10 per student and can be bought at the door or at the following locations:The Dancer's Shop, Hamden, A1 Toyota  , New Haven,  The Dancer's Boutique , East Haven, The JCC , Woodbridge and New England Ballet, Orange.

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