Ballet performance at Artis-Naples fundraises for arts community after Ian

Reporter: Asha Patel
Published: Updated:

Ballet dancers from all across the world are coming together Friday night for a good cause.

They are here to participate in a special hurricane fundraiser.

The goal for the performance is to raise funds to help communities all across Southwest Florida.

So many people need that extra help right now and that’s exactly what these dancers hope to accomplish.

Illiana Lopez and Franklin Gamero have been ballet dancers for years.

They were planning their season for 2023-2024 when Ian struck.

But they bounced back by creating the disaster relief fundraiser Arts Heal, which is bringing dancers from all over the world like Paris and Spain. They also have dancers from some of the best ballet companies in the United States.

Lopez and Gamero have been working with the dancers for this performance for the last month.

“It took a few days of us being and thinking about it,” said Lopez. “I think it was like Oct. 4; let’s do something about this, let’s do something positive and give back so we started calling all our friends from all over the world and the dance community responded quickly and wanted to support this cause.”

All funds will go to art communities across Southwest Florida.

The performance begins at 8 p.m. at Artis-Naples.

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