On Saturday 1/24, NYC celebrated the Silver Anniversary of The Center Dance (now known as Dance:208). It was 25 years of NYC Gay history...and twirling...and spinning...and fierce Drag... Manager & host Joe Fiore welcomed us as we listened to the three legendary DJs Bobby Viteritti, Carlos Sanchez & Ted Snowdon. It was an incredibly diverse crowd of over 300 dancers. Joe calls it, The Center's house party ("...and you're all invited!"). Two veteran volunteers (who still help out!) were honored: Robert Brightman with 25 years and Emily Verna with 19 years of service. Members of the Imperial Court of NY made announcements along with Center honchos Robert Woodworth, Orie Urami, Julia Noel Goldman and others. As the former & current dance committee chairs (including the first from 1984 Tom Verley) and volunteers, made it to the stage and blew out the candles on the anniversary cake to great applause...there was not a dry eye in the house. Over the year Dance:208 has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Center, and has always been a volunteer-run organization supported by the Center...so in the current atmosphere of community activism, this was a true milestone. The interviews were filmed for Out at The Center, seen on cable TV. SEEN: Joe Fiore, Rollerena, Lovari, David Aviles, Ector Simpson, Danny Brook, Rocco, DJ Reed McGowan, DJ Jerel Black, Jeff Eason, Pete Lau, Dustin Fitzharris, Krishna Stone, Phil Ventura, DJ Lenny Fontana, Brent Nicholson Earle, Dan Estella, Joe Mattera and others.[Photos: Clover Honey with Lovari / with Rocco / posing / with Rollerina]
On Saturday 1/24, NYC celebrated the Silver Anniversary of The Center Dance (now known as Dance:208). It was 25 years of NYC Gay history...and twirling...and spinning...and fierce Drag... Manager & host Joe Fiore welcomed us as we listened to the three legendary DJs Bobby Viteritti, Carlos Sanchez & Ted Snowdon. It was an incredibly diverse crowd of over 300 dancers. Joe calls it, The Center's house party ("...and you're all invited!"). Two veteran volunteers (who still help out!) were honored: Robert Brightman with 25 years and Emily Verna with 19 years of service. Members of the 
