The AIDS Healthcare Foundation partners with legendary award-winning choreographer/dancer/actor Debbie Allen and her Los Angeles-based Debbie Allen Dance Academy presented “Keeping the Promise–1,000,000 Lives in Care: Celebrating Icons of Dance” at Harlem’s historic Apollo Theater Friday, Nov. 30.
The event, which was presented in New York for the first time, used the arts and dance performances to honor World AIDS Day. It also included cultural icons such as actor/singer/choreographer Maurice Hines, prima ballerina Misty Cropland, award-winning actor/director Phylicia Rashad, award-winning dancer/choreographer George Faison and President of the AHF Michael Weinstein.
“Our World AIDS Day event at the Apollo Theater on Nov. 30 honors the exemplary art, work and advocacy of Debbie Allen, who throughout her storied career has also been a vibrant voice in the fight against HIV and AIDS.” said Weinstein. “The evening also provides opportunity to recognize our own 31-year journey in the fight against AIDS, culminating in a momentous recent milestone for AHF: as of October, we now have over 1 million lives in care in 42 countries and continue our global mission to provide cutting-edge medical care to those living with HIV and AIDS regardless of their ability to pay.”
This year, Allen was awarded the 2018 AHF Lifetime Achievement Award, and a special tribute was given to legendary dancer/choreographer and co-founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Arthur Mitchell, for his leadership in dance and civil rights.
“It was over 40 years ago that we started hearing about a ‘gay cancer’ that then seemed to slowly start to surface in every community around the world,” said Allen. “This disease, which knows no discrimination of race, gender or economic standing has devastated the dance and artistic community, with no real understanding of it or no real cure. We lost so much genius in the making.”
Respected late icons of dance who have died of AIDS will also be celebrated. They include Ulysses Dove, Michael Peters, Gene Anthony Ray, Michael Bennett, Rudolph Nureyev and Alvin Ailey.
“Under the leadership of Michael Weinstein, it has truly improved the quality of life for those who have been stricken by HIV and their family members,” said Allen. “Now millions can survive and live fruitful lives. That we are celebrating the icons of dance at the Apollo is absolutely amazing. There is a list much longer than what we can pay tribute to, but for these few moments we will acknowledge before the world the genius and creativity that was all gone too soon. It will hopefully be a resurgence of everyone’s global community effort to educate and communicate how we can live with HIV/AIDS.”
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the largest provider of HIV/AIDS medical assistance in the United States. Starting in 1987, the organization has consistently worked toward the goal of getting rid of AIDS, partnering with pharmacies, thrift stores and other unique venues. Based in Los Angeles, the global nonprofit organization currently provides medicine and support to 1,042,470 individuals in 42 countries.
Performances for the evening were as follows: The Dance Theatre of Harlem, Philadanco, Ailey II, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Syncopated Ladies and Jason Samuels Smith.
Free, rapid, one-minute HIV testing was also be provided during the event.