On August 12, The Fortune Society will join Public Works to collaborate on an unforgettable dance experience titled Let’s Hear it for New York! Fortune community members will gather with over 1,000 New Yorkers in Central Park to dance to Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind” from the Original Cast Recording of the Broadway musical HELL’S KITCHEN.  

At Fortune, staff and Creative Arts members are gearing up for August 12. In preparation for the performance, participants attend up to six workshops to teach choreography and establish community.  

Cinthia, a Public Works Core member and Fortune’s Creative Arts Senior Associate, is a partner liaison. She is present at all rehearsals and assists in ensuring all participating Fortune members are ready for the performance. She has watched excitement swell leading up to the performance day.  

Cinthia shared that participating dancers have varying experience levels, but the accessibility-informed choreography, created by Tony-nominated director and choreographer Camille A. Brown, considers all backgrounds and bodies.    

“They’re constantly thinking about how people’s bodies move and what everyone needs. They make sure to be aware of where everyone is in space, and they do a great job in making sure the space and their projects work for all bodies. It’s important to be sure that everyone is having fun and staying comfortable.” 

Cinthia is most excited for participating Fortune members to have fun. Working with the Creative Arts community, she has seen firsthand the transformative power of art and self-expression. Events like Let’s Hear it for New York can inspire our participants and encourage them to explore their creativity further. 

“We have this horrible stereotype of the starving artist, but it’s important to know that there is so much more out there,” Cinthia shared. “Events like this help people realize that there are people who do this for a living, and they can, too. This dance performance shows people that art is great for the soul and great for a career if they are interested in pursuing it.” 

Norianne, a Fortune’s Creative Arts community member, looks forward to the performance day. A musician, digital filmmaker and entertainer, Norianne has long considered herself an artist, though this is her first time participating in such a large civic performance.  

Before connecting with Fortune’s Creative Arts community, Norianne felt hesitant about sharing her art publicly. Attending our weekly Music Cafe provided a comfortable environment for her to express herself creatively, and now, she is often involved in Fortune’s creative projects. Upon learning about Let’s Hear it for New York, Norianne jumped at the chance to join and fulfill a longtime dream of participating in such a large public event.  

“They encouraged everyone to be a part of it. When they explained the project, they said that they wanted a group of a thousand people involved, and they showed videos of people dancing together. I realized that this was something I had always wanted to be a part of. It’s my first time being in a project like this, but when I learned about Public Works, I knew that I wanted to be there.” 

As performance day quickly approaches, Cinthia, Norianne and all other participating Fortune members are excited to dance and celebrate the power of community through this joyful experience.  

Anyone is welcome to join Public Works, Fortune and other collaborating organizations on August 12! We encourage you to join us, if not as a dancer, to witness this unforgettable civic experience.