Dance For Life—the annual fundraiser for HIV/AIDS care, prevention and education that promotes the art of dance in Chicago—is always an emotional evening, even for event veterans such as Harrison McEldowney.
"I always get excited [ for Dance For Life ] ; it is the one time a year so much of the dance community [ comes ] together in one night and you can see these world-class Chicago dance companies in one place," said McEldowney, 48, who lives in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. "Then I get a little sad. I lived I New York in the early 1980s at the start of [ the AIDS epidemic ] . I lost a lot of friends, dancers, and I [ start thinking, ] 'Are you kidding me, we're still here? Having to do this? When will it end?'"
McEldowney, who is the lead creative director for the creative shop Under The Radar, has had many roles at Dance For Life. He started as a dancer, both in companies and once or twice in the finale. Then he went for a couple of years to do the raffle, in which dancers find crazy ways through dance to grab the winning tickets. He also choreographed an original piece for the event's 10-year anniversary. Then he did two original pieces, one closing the first act, one opening Dance for Life.
The 2010 Dance For Life is Saturday night, Aug. 21, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph—and McEldowney is choreographing the finale, which has been a Dance for Life institution and choreographed for the past 18 years by Randy Duncan.
"Art inspires me; it keeps me going; it makes me want to leave some significant lasting impression, even if it is on one person," said McEldowney. "When the curtain rises for the first dance of the evening, it is a moment filled with hope, anticipation and possibility. It suggests a future beyond that moment."
McEldowney will shine this time at the end of the night.
"As dancers abuse ourselves, we stand down, we are somewhat inconspicuous in the real world other than maybe a turned out funny walk," he added. "One of the finale songs has the Annie Lennox lyric, 'got a life, though it refuses to shine…' I want these dancers to take the opportunity to show they are alive, to shine, and for that to illuminate the audience, and they'll shine, and they'll walk out with it, and pass that on. Part of that shine is what has been left behind, by those who have passed on; it lives in light within us; we have to share it; it keeps the memory alive."
Ironically, it was a few words that stand out most from his Dance For Life career.
"Someone was supposed to speak and was not there, so [ Dance For Life ] founder Keith Elliott asked me to step on stage and say a few words," McEldowney said. "The piece before [ I spoke ] was a male duet by Lar Lubovitch. I was balling and could barely speak; it was so moving. But it inspired me to find the words, and after I spoke, Lar sought me out and thanked me. It was a moment I have never forgotten."
Keith Elliott founded Dance for Life in 1992 as an inventive way for dancers and dance companies—whose incomes do not normally allow for large donations—to be able to contribute funds to AIDS-helping agencies. Through the years, Dance for Life has grown into the largest dance performance-based AIDS fundraising event in the Midwest.
Dance For Life events are now managed under the auspices of Chicago Dancers United.
"I always question why I am here and so many dear friends are gone. How did that pass by me?" McEldowney said. "I remember them everyday of my life. Dance for Life is an opportunity to share them, to share the joy, the struggle, and dance."
The cause is the reason McEldowney does it.
"What has happened [ with the AIDS epidemic ] is awful, and it is continuing to happen, in different ways, to different people. I will contribute in anyway I can, until it is over, or I am," he said.
Now in its 19th year, Dance for Life has raised nearly $4 million for HIV/AIDS education, prevention and care programs. This year's event will benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago ( AFC ) , Brothers Health Collective, Centro Romero and the Young Women's Empowerment Project, among other causes.
"As usual, I am looking forward to Dance For Life," said Lizzie MacKenzie, 31, a dancer with River North Dance Company and artistic director of Extensions Dance Company. This is her 10th Dance For Life, including her seventh time in the finale.
"I think the dance community as a whole looks forward to this event each summer as it gives us all an opportunity to truly give back and to feel that we are a part of something that is so much bigger than ourselves," she said. "It also gives us an opportunity to see each other [ since ] it's rare to have so many dancers from the community in the same place at the same time. So it is a great opportunity to catch up and to enjoy each other's company."
MacKenzie, who lives in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood, said her fondest part of Dance For Life is the finale because "it feels so special," she said.
" [ The finale ] is special because it includes dancers from each company, all coming together to be a part of the very special whole that is Dance For Life, all coming together to make a statement and to show how dear this cause is to our hearts," she said. "The finale always feels like we are punctuating the statement that is the Dance For Life performance by closing it out with a very clear statement that we are a whole and we come together to support this cause. It's very special and very dear to my heart.
"Dance For Life is a way for me to give back to the community that I love so much. By giving of myself, both the time donated to prepare and also the time spent with my youth company, [ Extensions Dance Company, which includes ] , hanging posters, raising money and performing in Dance For Life, we feel as though we are a part of something meaningful. This is a way to use our talents for something special and worthwhile. To me, this is what it's all about. We all come together, both audience and performers alike and enjoy an evening of giving back."
Dance for Life is Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph; the reception is at 5 p.m. and the performance is at 7:30 p.m. Participating companies include Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theatre, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, River North Chicago Dance Company and Thodos Dance Chicago. Tickets are $75-$500; see www.danceforlifechicago.com .
