This high-profile fundraising event, which will be held on December 11, 2006 at Cedar Lake at 527 West 26th Street in New York City, will be hosted by Tony Award® winning choreographer Jerry Mitchell and will feature 13 internationally acclaimed artists and dance companies. Scheduled to appear in addition to Ballet Austin are Alonzo King's LINES Ballet, Armitage Gone! Dance, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Dance Times Square, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company featuring Rasta Thomas, Michael Minery's Tapaholics, Pilobolus, Peter Quanz, Stephen Petronio Company, STREB, American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancers Irina Dvorovenko & Maxim Beloserkovsky, and the cast of Broadway' s The Color Purple.

“Our commitment to fighting AIDS through dance has created a major force in the dance community,” said Jamie Bishton, Producer, Dancers Responding to AIDS. “Not only does DRA provide critical assistance to those in need, but it has also inspired a new kind of family spirit in the dance world. Our invitation to Ballet Austin stems from both our commitment to expanding our message and our dance family beyond New York City, and in Stephen Mills’ drive and commitment to spread the word of DRA. We are all so very proud to be joined this year by this world-class dance company.”

"Dance From the Heart" was inspired by DRA's annual “Fire Island Dance Festival” whose programs showcase many of the finest established and emerging choreographers and dance companies working in American dance today. DRA was introduced to Ballet Austin during their visit to New York last October for a performance at the Joyce Theater, where they participated in DRA’s Audience Appeal Program. Last year DRA as a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS was able to distribute $100,000 to 23 AIDS and Family services organizations in Texas.

For more information about DRA please visit www.dradance.org.

For additional information about Ballet Austin, visit www.balletaustin.org.