Dance for Our Children began as a wish and evolved into programs featuring local performers along with Broadway stars to support the pediatric program at HUMC.
“A patient of ours longed to see Wicked on Broadway,” said Ellen Goldring, section chief of the Child Life Department at Sanzari. “Her health declined rapidly and it wasn’t possible for her to attend the show on Broadway, so we brought a mini show to her."
Some of the stars of "Wicked" performed excerpts of the show for Julianna in her hospital room, and the performance inspired the subsequent Dance for Our Children benefit shows.
Dance for Our Children is produced by Nancy King, artistic director and founder of the King Centre for the Performing Arts in Wanaque, Mahwah and Butler. Her son, Christopher King, is one of the "Wicked" performers.
Richard Blake, who stars as Tommy DeVito in "Jersey Boys" on Broadway, also has performed for Dance for Our Children. His wife teaches at the King Centre and his son was born at HUMC and spent two weeks in the neonatal intensive-care unit.
"The staff was amazing, and I would do anything for the hospital," Blake said.
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