Dance for Life held its annual launch party in the Auditorium Theatre's Katten Landau studio June 13.
Intended to kick-start ticket sales for the Aug. 18 HIV/AIDS fundraiser, the launch also raised money for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, the Dancers' Fund and Chicago Women's AIDS Project.
"We have a wonderful, huge group of corporate sponsors, but of course, it's the individual donors and that's what tonight is about," said Anthony Guerrero, producer of Dance for Life. "Also, everyone who wants to see dance and can be a part of it."
The event was full of dancers and dance community supporters. Interspersed were performances by Expressions Dance Company.
The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University will host Dance for Life for the second year in a row. The partnership began for the 20th-anniversary Dance for Life performances last year.
This year's Dance for Life will feature the Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dane Chicago, River North Dance Chicago, Luna Negra Dance Theater and Ron de Jesus Dance.
Guerrero also explained what will happen between the launch party and the performance in August.
"Keep an eye out for things that may pop up around the city, but over the next couple of months it is all about making the city aware of this event, selling those tickets, letting them know we are in a bigger space and its for everybody to come and learn about what it is to give and have fun and enjoy their evening," he said.
More information and tickets are available at www.danceforlifechicago.com .