Annual Gala Benefits Special Needs Dance Program

The community is invited to support and celebrate youth with special needs who are learning the art of Ballroom Dance. Join Rochester Ballroom’s RB Friends and the Community Foundation on October 2 at the Royal Park Hotel for RB Friend’s Annual Gala, ‘A Night on Broadway’. 

Founded in 2013 by Rochester Ballroom, RB Friends is a program committed to offering ballroom dance lesson scholarships to youth and children with special needs. Two years ago, RB Friends started the RB Friends Fund to help offset the cost of dance to students in the program. Since its inception, the RB Friends Fund has given 13 scholarships to youth and individuals with special needs. 

One of the first members of RB Friends was Rochester Hills resident Emily Jacobs. Many will remember Emily from her senior year at Rochester High School when she became Prom Queen and took the community by storm.  

“Emily has been a part of the RB Friends group since its formation. Ballroom Dance benefits Emily in many ways,” said Cheryl Jacobs, Emily’s mother. “Her confidence has increased through dancing. It helps her speaking with others as it is a great topic of conversation. Ballroom Dance shows others what Emily is truly capable of.”

‘A Night on Broadway’ will feature professional performances from RB Friends students as well as Rochester Ballroom professional dance performances, live music along and an exquisite full dinner prepared by chefs at The Royal Park.

“We started the Special Needs program three years ago at Rochester Ballroom,” said Alan Smith, owner of Rochester Ballroom. “We see the benefits of dance in these indiviuals lives, and so two years ago we worked with The Community Foundation of Greater Rochester to launch the RB Friends Fund.”

Special thanks to Mr. C’s Car Wash, the premier sponsor of this year’s RB Friends Gala. “Shortly after moving to Oakland Township, a good friend gave us a gift certificate to the Rochester Ballroom which I gladly handed over to my wife,” said Bill Caltalfio, owner of Mr. C’s Car Wash. “She’s been dancing at the Rochester Ballroom ever since, so when Alan asked if I would like to sponsor the gala, I was happy to do so, particularly since my wife has always spoken highly of the Rochester Ballroom Friends and I would like to see that program continue.”

Funds from the Annual Gala will help RB Friends continue to grow and serve students with Special Needs and youth dance programs at Rochester Ballroom. The RB Friends Annual Gala, ‘A Night on Broadway’ will be held on October 2 from 5:30-10:30 p.m. at the Royal Park Hotel. Tickets to the Annual Gala are $80 and can be purchased at cfound.org/rb-friends-gala or at Rochester Ballroom by calling 248-651-7746. Follow Rochester Ballroom on Facebook for more information.