The Industry Dance Awards have become synonymous with glamour and excitement and this year’s show was no different! Live performances, a star-studded red carpet and elegant awards celebrating outstanding accomplishments in the dance industry all worked together to create one of the most anticipated events in Hollywood!
We kicked off the events on Tuesday night with our annual nominee party hosted at the beautiful Bardot Lounge in Hollywood, CA. The guests enjoyed flutes of champagne and a fun photo booth while celebrating in a glamorous, old Hollywood rooftop venue above the historic Avalon Theatre. This was truly a night to remember with old friends meeting new while honoring the best of the best in the dance industry.
On Wednesday, while the Avalon was being set for the star-studded evening to come, Dancers Against Cancer hosted an elegant and memorable brunch for IDA nominees and dancers and their families who have received financial assistance from DAC. The audience heard inspiring speeches from those whose lives have been directly affected by cancer and heartfelt testimonials from those who have overcome the disease. After this inspiring brunch, the DAC “Hope Stories” were treated to the full glam experience, getting their hair and make-up professionally done in a penthouse suite at the Hilton in Los Angeles!
The 2018 Industry Dance Awards started in style with a glittering red carpet filled with photographers and press to capture the entrance of all nominees and celebrity guests. Red carpet interviews, sponsored by Inside Dance Magazine, highlighted the excitement and enthusiasm for the incredible show to come.
From a spectacular opening performance from Frankie Z to the exciting dance piece performances by members of IDA grant recipient, Cantinas Arts along with a beautiful and moving presentation honoring those who have lost their lives to cancer, IDA truly embodied its mission of bringing the global dance community together in a celebration of creativity, innovation and the fight against cancer.
The Industry Dance Awards have always been grateful to those in the industry that give their time and energy to support this fundraising event. We were honored to have Paula Abdul present Tina Landon with the Dance Icon Award. Dance legend Debbie Allen graced the stage while accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award. Kyle Hanagami, the recipient of the Dance Media Influencer Awards, was introduced by his enormously talented friend, Julianne Hough and Stephen “tWitch” Boss graciously accepted his award for Dance Innovator Award and Favorite Inside Dance Magazine Cover Star. With appearances from some of the biggest stars in the industry, including Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy, Peta Murgatroyd and Travis Wall, who presented his mother Denise with the Dance Role Model Award, the evening brought no end to the excitement!
The 2018 Industry Dance Awards was an outstanding success. Hundreds of dancers, choreographers, musicians and guests came together as a community to support this incredible cause. Together, we raised over $50,000 during the evening! Another $25,000 was generously donated by Pine-Sol, helping to bring hope to those struggling with cancer. Dancers Against Cancer could not continue to spread hope without the support and enthusiasm from all those in our community. We cannot thank you enough and we are looking forward to the 2019 Industry Dance Awards!
For more information about Dancers Against Cancer, please click the link!