March 10-16, 2005

artpicks

Step Lively

by Lew Whittington

benefit

Shut Up and Dance is usually the feel-good benefit of the year, but this annual fund-raiser may in fact be more vital than ever for its cause and public awareness about HIV/AIDS.

As usual, all proceeds go to MANNA, the all-volunteer organization that prepares and delivers more than 40,000 meals a month to people living with the disease. MANNA recently went through an administrative and fiscal downsizing but has maintained all of their services. There have also been recent reports of HIV/AIDS increasing in many populations and case studies of new HIV strains that appear resistant to standard drug protocols.

Aside from its more serious mission, the event also has proven to be the launch pad for developing choreographic talent among the ranks of the dancers of the Pennsylvania Ballet, who have staged it for the last 13 years. Dancer-choreographers Matt Neenan, Heidi Cruz, Christine Cox, Meredith Rainey and others will take over the Forrest Theater with 26 others to dance for the cause.

Last week, most of the dancers were in a heavy rehearsal cycle with PAB's demanding production of La Fille mal gardée at the Academy of Music and had to put the benefit on hold. Principal dancer David Krensing, who is directing the event for the fifth time, says, "We've been this crunched for time before and it's all worked out." As for the much-anticipated opening number, Krensing would only say, "We're still working on it."

"Scary new mutations of the virus are emerging," Krensing says. "But it's important for us not to get down into that and to keep it light and lively, because it's more fun for everyone involved. It makes raising money for a serious cause that much easier."

Every year there is a version of Michel Fokine's "Dying Swan," made famous by prima ballerina Anna Pavlova, that by now has been performed in every style from classic to drag. Philly's own Pavlova, Riolama Lorenzo, is currently slated to dance it this time. Krensing reminds that everybody should buy tickets in advance so "we're not panicking the day of."

Shut Up and Dance, Wed., March 16, 7:30 p.m., $20-$65, Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut St., 215-49-MANNA, www.mannapa.org. After-party, free (with ticket stub), Pure, 1221 St. James St., $175 VIP admission includes 6 p.m. pre-party cocktail reception at the Forrest and a program book listing. Tickets can also be purchased at MANNA, 12 S. 23rd St.; Foster's Urban Homeware, 124 N. Third St.; Giovanni's Room, 345 S. 12th St.; and select TLA Video locations.