Join Dancing Classrooms on The Edison Ballroom dance floor in the heart of the Theater District for a night of dance and celebration! The long-awaited annual MAD HOT BALL is coming back in-person for the first time since 2019, making its defiantly joyful debut on May 12, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. EST. MAD HOT BALL 2022 is open to the public and is Dancing Classrooms’ largest, annual fundraising event. Celebrate the resurgence of New York City’s vibrant arts and culture scene and honor the NYC students, educators, and artists who persevered during pandemic driven by the power of social dance. Get tickets, tables, and program ads here.

The main program will be emceed by Dancing Classrooms alumni, actor, and dancer Jeremey Adam Rey and auctioneer Karen Sorbo will lead the Live Fund-A-Need. There will be student performances, live music by The Paul Errico Orchestra, a not-to-be-missed digital silent auction, food and beverage design by celebrity chef Mina Newman, and of course, dancing! Following the main program, an After Party with Latin music and top dance hits will be held in the Edison Ballroom’s Chandelier Room hosted by Dancing Classrooms alumni DJ Josuel Plasencia. VIP Ticket Holders have access to a 6:30 p.m. cocktail hour which includes a chance to meet our students, premier seating, and entry to the After Party. Supporters at the $250 ticket level enjoy an evening of dancing, live music, food, and premium bar – all in the Edison’s stunning art deco space. After Party access is available as a separate $50 ticket option, and includes dancing and open bar. This year, MAD HOT BALL 2022 is Co-Chaired by Dancing Classrooms Vice Chair Patrice Tanaka and beloved ballroom dance icon Edward Simon.

MAD HOT BALL 2022 will celebrate “Dancing Through It All,” highlighting student transformations, resulting from the joy, connection, and social-emotional benefits of social dance during a multi-year, global pandemic. The evening will also honor the collective leadership, bravery, and optimism of organizations and individuals that helped New York thrive and power through these challenging times.  

Honorees:

• Bringing Back Dance Award: Honoring New York City-based dance studios and studio owners who bravely and with great hope and optimism opened during the pandemic and led the resurgence of dance in the city.

Ballroom Hub – Igor Litvinov and Renata Shvarts

Big Apple Ballroom – Michael Choi and Vanda Polakova

Dance Loft NYC – Dmitry Nikishkin and Olena Shvets-Nikishkin

Danznik Studios – Nikolai Shpakov

Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine Dance Studio NYC –
Carrie Shea Steinmetz and Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine

Stepping Out Studios – George Ciao and JingJing Lai

Queens Ballroom Dance – Mary Liu, Annie Xiao, and Yuriy Nartov

• Social Emotional Learning Champion Award: Honoring a leader in the education field and champion of nurturing social emotional learning skills for the success of K-12 learners.
   

Dr. Meisha Porter – President and CEO, The Bronx Community Foundation

• Social Dance Innovator Award: Honoring a leader in the dance, arts & culture sector, who creates new pathways to learn about social dance as a lever of driving society forward.

LaTasha Barnes – Choreographer, Educator, Performer, Cultural Ambassador, and Tradition-bearer of Black American Social Dance

Dancing Classrooms and The Edison Ballroom will uphold all safety guidelines, and full COVID vaccination will be required to attend. There will be direct communication with guests in the weeks leading up to May 12 with further requirements and updates, adhering to safety mandates. 

Details on corporate sponsorship, VIP tables and tickets, Supporter tickets, and After-Party tickets can be found here. Support of any amount goes directly to supporting Dancing Classrooms programs and individuals may donate and/or RSVP using the link here, or by mailing donations to 1350 Avenue of the Americas, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10019. 

For more information on the Dancing Classrooms, visit DancingClassrooms.org and follow @DancingClassroomsNYC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
#DancingClassrooms #MadHotBall2022 #MadHotBall

ABOUT

For over 25 years Dancing Classrooms has partnered with schools and community-based organizations to cultivate essential life skills in children through the joyful art and practice of social dance. To date we have served over 600,000 young people worldwide. Our vision is schools and communities where every child is connected, respected, and given an environment in which to thrive.