Dressage Under the Stars Returns to Wellington For One Night Cancer Challenge Event
Photo courtesy of Phelps Media Group.
WELLINGTON, FLA. — Dressage Under the Stars is returning to Wellington this year for one night only after a three-year hiatus to fundraise for cancer research.
The Dressage Under the Stars Cancer Challenge presented by Invictus Farm and Sport Horses will draw about a half dozen top grand prix dressage riders and their horses to the Palm Beach Polo & Country Club on Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. The event is hosted by Partners For A Cure, a non-profit organization that gives to families in need because of cancer. All proceeds from the event will be donated to cancer-related charities for research.
A crowd-pleasing event where top riders perform a dressage freestyle in costume to the music of their choice, Dressage Under the Stars is synonymous with a fun night. A panel of three judges rate the test based on its technical movements, but also on its creativity and flare. Olympian Bent Jensen’s freestyle to LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It” won the event with a perfect score and went viral in 2012.
Rick Rockefeller-Silvia founded Dressage Under the Stars nearly eight years ago to present Dressage to a broader audience in a fun and engaging way. He partnered with Stephen Williams to produce the event because of his background in staging television and live events particularly for the equestrian community in Wellington and around the globe. The series ran for several weeks during the winter season and was a way to make dressage approachable and fun for the community.
“Dressage Under the Stars was initially started to offer riders a chance to ride under the lights before a non-equestrian audience to share the art and beauty of the sport in a fun and friendly way.” said Rockefeller-Silvia.
Rockefeller-Silvia and Williams are teaming up again to run the event as a charity fundraiser. The goal is also to raise awareness of forms of cancer that are not as well known or represented in charity events.
“Plans are for this to be one of Wellington’s most celebrated dressage cancer fundraising events,” said Mary Lou Moskal, founder of Partners For a Cure and chairwoman of the Dressage Under the Stars Cancer Challenge.
General admission tickets at $25 will be on sale online starting on January 14th. VIP tables to include a cocktail reception and four course meal are available. For information please visit www.dressageunderthestars.com.