Joe Lanteri. Photo Courtesy of Joe Lanteri.
Joe Lanteri, the executive director and founder of the NYC Dance Alliance, chatted about the 2025 Chita Rivera Awards
On being a part of the 2025 Chita Rivers Awards nominees reception at Bond 45 in Manhattan, Lanteri said, “This is such a great day and the fact that Chita is not here feels so surreal and unreal to me. Chita would thrive in this room, especially since it’s full of dancers.”
“It’s a truly wonderful day for the dance community to bring all this talent together under one roof,” he added.
Importance of this cause
Regarding the importance of this cause, he remarked, “This cause is important because it involves dance, and we are talking about very high standards of excellence in dance and choreography.”
“Also, these awards support the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation, which is dear to my heart because I am the founder and executive director. The money that we raise all does go back out in college scholarships,” he elaborated.
NYC Dance Alliance Foundation
The NYC Dance Alliance Foundation (NYCDAF) was founded in 2010, and it is committed to broadening performing arts awareness while advocating education and high standards of excellence in dance. The foundation invests in the next generation of professional performers by offering scholarships for secondary and college education.
Lanteri on Bebe Neuwirth
On having the iconic Bene Neuwirth announce this year’s nominees at this reception, Lanteri said, “Bebe is a legend, and she should be a part of this, any time and every time, and she has been a part of this.”
“Bebe is a great friend of the Chita Rivera Awards, and we are very honored to have her with us today,” he added.
Closing thoughts on the 2025 Chita Rivera Awards
For fans and vieweres, Lanteri stated about the Chita Rivera Awards, “I want people to feel the sense of community. Of course, there are going to awards, and there is going to be entertainment (because the shows are incredible), but more than anything, you will feel a sense of love, and this is what Chita loved most about it.”
“When you walk away from tonight, you know you are a part of a very special evening, people came together to share some great theater stories, there is a sense of community, and we are all in this moment together. The world needs more of that, especially these days,” Lanteri concluded.
To learn more about the 2025 Chita Rivera Awards, visit the official homepage.
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