All in This Together: Dancing for a Cure 2019!
San Jose Dance International’s Dancing for a Cure 2019! was jubilant and emotional collaboration that successfully brought together the community to stand up against brain cancer. The brain tumor benefit dance festival, which was performed on November 3rd at the De Anza Visual and Performing Arts Center in Cupertino, brought together numerous dance forms to raise awareness of brain tumors and support the National Brain Tumor Society, a nationwide non-profit dedicated to serving those affected by brain tumors. This was one of the many events created by San Jose Dance International (“SJDI”), a non-profit arts organization which aims to provide entertainment to the community and educate others through dance performance. 
All different types of dancers, from the greater San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, graced the stage with their brilliant performances ranging from classical ballet to vertical dance to Kathak dance to Chinese classical dance. Some highlights included clogging by the Silicon Valley Stompers whose energetic and animated beats had audiences clapping along and the sensual and fun Brazillian Zouk partner dance by Zouk SF. Another focal point of the evening was Dimensions Dance Theater’s rhythmic drumming beats and down-to-earth athleticism and the flamboyant and distinctive dance of Koko de la Isla Flamenco. Dancing for a Cure 2019! would not be complete without All Star Kung Fu’s harmonious moves, the spirited spins of Ballet Folklorico Mexico Danza, Mannakin Theater and Dance’s expressive partnering work and more. 
Dancing for a Cure 2019! featured three world-renowned classical ballet dancers, Ana Sophia Scheller, and dancers and spouses, Petra Conti and Eris Nezha. Petra Conti’s The Swan moved audiences with her powerful performance of a dying swan. Ana Sophia Scheller and Eris Nezha danced the Black Swan Pas de Deux and brought a fiery and amazing spirit onto the stage. Bringing back to the event’s mission, Conti, the Italian-born dancer danced as a cancer survivor and shared her journey to recovery in an emotional video. Ana Sophia Scheller, the Argentinian-born dancer dedicated her wonderful performance to her older sister who is currently battling brain cancer. 
As with these ballet stars, all of the participating dancers, volunteers and audience members were connected to supporting the battle against brain tumors. San Jose Dance International’s organization leaders, Dr. Tomoko Ozawa, the original founder of Dancing for a Cure! and co-founder of SJDI, and Mr. Xin Yu, the Artistic Director and co-founder of SJDI, and Ms. Miko Fogarty, SJDI’s Conservatory Director, all share an intimate connection with the event’s cause. Dr. Ozawa is a trained and practiced neurosurgeon and who currently serves as the co-director of pre-clinical therapeutic testing core in the brain tumor center at UCSF. Mr. Yu, a ballet dancer who has danced with Shanghai Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and American Ballet Theater, spoke about how personal the event is to him as his father passed away due to brain cancer. Ms. Fogarty, is currently assisting in advancing brain cancer research at UCSF to ultimately cure the disease. To top off the night, two brain tumor survivors, Mr. Craig Frost and Mr. Karl Pontau, blessed the stage by sharing their stories with the audience. Mr. Frost was diagnosed with a primary malignant brain tumor in May 2018 with a five-year relative survival rate of only 5.6% and is currently in remission. Mr. Pontau is a co-founder of Brainiacs of SF Bay which is a group for young professionals with brain tumors. Their appearances to this event were so special and they are true inspirations. Listening to them talk about their fight against cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, all while maintaining a resilient spirit, was inspiring and brought many to tears. 
SJDI’s Dancing with a Cure 2019! embodied the spirit of togetherness and community encompassed in their mission. For those who missed this awe-inspiring event, feel free to check out SJDI's website or their Facebook page for more outreach events and programs in the future. 
Photo Credit: Jonathan Lee
