MANNA’s Shut Up & Dance 2012

We’re ardent supporters of MANNA (Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance). They prepare and deliver delicious nourishing meals and counsel, empowering people who are at acute nutritional risk due to life-threatening illness to battle illness and improve their quality of life.

“Neighbors nourishing neighbors”

We heard about one of their fundraisers, “Shut Up & Dance,” which is an annual event held at the Forrest Theatre in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Ballet. 2012 marked the 20th anniversary for the event, which called for something extra.

We were in-studio at WXPN with Michaela Majoun and MANNA CEO Richard Keaveney for the lead-up to the event.

We documented the preparation of the ballet dancers up to the event, asking what the event meant to them.

And, we talked to past dancers about their experiences with the event and MANNA as an organization.

From MANNApa.org:

“The 20th Anniversary of Shut Up & Dance, which was held at the Forrest Theatre on March 24, 2012, was a huge success, raising nearly $150,000 for MANNA’s nurtition and meal program and bringing together more than 1,500 friends of MANNA.

More than 200 guests enjoyed fantastic food, drinks and MANNA signature cocktails before the performance at the pre-party. Steven & Jennifer Korman hosted the pre-performance cocktail reception and reminded everyone why we are truly, neighbors  nourishing neighbors.