Former ABT Principal Sarah Lane dancing to save homeless animals

Sarah Lane was a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, a company she left, which surprised many, in 2020. In an interview with Pointe magazine in 2021, she explained part of the reason why.

Now she has founded Dance for Paws, a non-profit organisation using dance to raise funds and awareness for homeless animals. Dance for Paws supports no-kill shelters, rescues, and clinics across the United States, helping to improve care for homeless animals, reduce euthanasia rates, and promote adoption.

The inaugural fundraising event, Grace to the Rescue on 2 June 2025, will be held at Symphony Space in New York City. Dancers from American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem will be performing, including Gillian Murphy, James Whiteside, and Christine Shevchenko.

I have danced on stages all over the world – says Lane – and seen first-hand that dance has the power to inspire change, raise awareness, and ignite conversations. Through Dance for Paws, I’m thrilled to be able to use this art form to make a real difference in the lives of homeless animals. Our inaugural gala, Grace to the Rescue, is not just about raising funds, it’s about creating a community of people who are passionate about giving these animals a second chance. Together, we can provide them with the care, love, and forever homes they deserve.

An hour before the curtain, a “sidewalk mini-adoption event” will take place outside Symphony Space. The evening is as much about raising awareness for homeless pets as it is about showcasing dance’s ability to inspire change.

Highlights include an excerpt from Emeralds by George Balanchine, performed by Baily Jones, Alexa Maxwell, and KJ Takahashi of New York City Ballet, and the Bluebird Pas de Deux from The Sleeping Beauty, danced by Takumi Miyake and YoonJung Seo of American Ballet Theatre. Gillian Murphy, who retires next year, will give one of her final performances dancing James Whiteside’s On the Water pas de deux alongside Whiteside. The programme also includes the White Swan Pas de Deux from Swan Lake with Christine Shevchenko and Thomas Forster, both of American Ballet Theatre.

New works will include Rich Man’s Frug by Andrew Winans, danced by Graceanne Pierce and Interactions by Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Ingrid Silva, performed by David Wright and Elias Delano Re. Additional contemporary pieces include The Winter from 4 Seasons by Arcadian Broad and Disconnect by Francis Lawrence. The programme will also showcase Dark Meadow Suite, performed by Graham 2 Dance Company.

The evening will conclude with an excerpt from Don Quixote, featuring American Ballet Theatre’s rising stars Jake Roxander and Léa Fleytoux, alongside the inaugural Dance for Paws Award recipients from ADC IBC as the Flower Girls and New Jersey Ballet dancers in Classical Couples, adapted by Sarah Lane. 

All net proceeds from Grace to the Rescue will benefit Best Friends Animal Society’s Campaign to Save Them All, the Emma and Georgina Bloomberg AMC to the Rescue Fund, and Muddy Paws Rescue’s foster programme. These organisations work to reduce the number of animals euthanised each year and provide crucial care to those in need. 

TICKET AND VENUE INFORMATION 

Grace to the Rescue will take place on Monday, June 2 at 7:00pm at Symphony Space, located at 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, accessible by the 1,2,3, B and C trains. 
Tickets start at $75 and are available at https://www.symphonyspace.org/events/vp-dance-for-paws.

Gramilano Editor

Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.

Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.

He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.