Inside the National Dance Institute’s 47th Annual Gala
The National Dance Institute, a non-profit organization that has transformed the lives of millions of children, held its 47th Annual Gala Monday, April 17 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City to honor Academy Award-Winning actress, dancer, and singer Ariana DeBose as well as philanthropists Carmen and Ray Debbane.
Founded by the legendary New York City Ballet principal dancer Jacques d’Amboise, the Gala is the Institute’s largest fundraising event of the year, with all proceeds benefiting NDI’s award-winning arts education programs for New York City’s public school youth. This year, the gala raised $1.7 million in support of its award-winning arts education programs that reach over 6,000 children every week.
The evening began at 6 p.m. in the ballroom alongside the silent auction in which attendees got to bid on many raffles such as tickets to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Broadway’s MJ the Musical.
Philanthropists Carmen and Ray Debbane honored at National Dance Institute’s 47th Annual Gala on April 17, 2023
Photo Credit: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for National Dance Institute
Inside the ballroom attendees were offered delicious cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres as they listened to the shutters of cameras as event-goers took their places on the red carpet before the gala commenced with performances by the children of NDI.
Academy Award-Winning actress, dancer, and singer Ariana DeBose, Honoree at National Dance Institute’s 47th Annual Gala on April 17, 2023
Photo Credit: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for National Dance Institute
DeBose opted for a spring-inspired orange suit to accept her award for NDI’s Artistic Honoree, celebrating the “West Side Story” star’s devotion to authenticity and passion in the entertainment world. DeBose was seen throughout the evening giving advice and smiles to attendees and child performers apart of the NDI.
I think we can all agree that she most certainly did the thing!
To learn more about the NDI and their mission, you can visit their website at https://nationaldance.org/.
