Friday, March 11, 2016 | International Polo Club Palm Beach | Wellington, Florida
This annual fundraiser is a one-of-a-kind affair that highlights the equestrian sports of Dressage and Show Jumping. Competing riders include the “Who’s Who” of the top equestrian competitors in the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe. International riders perform to world-class music and choreography in their efforts to find a cure in our lifetime.
|
Alvarinho Interagro & Valete Interagro Valete Interagro ridden by Georgia Wren- Russ (owned by Katherine Cook)
Alvarinho Interagro ridden by Heather Bender (owned by Dr. Debra Eddington)
Diego Garcia Spanish/ Belgian cross ridden by Michele Riley (owned by Terry Johnson)
|
Wellington, FL – March 11, 2016 – Terry Ciotti Gallo, Tigger Montague, Ruth Hogan Poulsen and Heather Bender have dedicated many hours to creating the world-class dressage quadrilles that will be on display tonight at the 2016 Challenge of the Americas. With the assistance of these talented choreographers, the Challenge of the Americas can provide thrilling entertainment to spectators while raising money to support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) through their partner Play for P.I.N.K.
Team Purina’s choreographer, Terry Ciotti Gallo, has been involved with the Challenge since the inaugural event in 2002. She was motivated to take part because of breast cancer’s broad reach.
“I don’t think there is anybody who is unaffected by cancer,” Gallo explained. “It is important that we continue our development in terms of research.”
After Team Purina won last year, Gallo is aiming to wow the crowd again. An episode of American Idol inspired this year’s music selection. She worked with Betsy Steiner and Pam Goodrich, Team Purina’s captain, to design the routine and help lead their team practices.
“I have so much respect for my riders,” Gallo said. “They are all professionals who donate their time out of their busy schedules. I also appreciate the owners who allow the riders to use their horses. We cannot do this event without their contributions.”
Tigger Montague designed the choreography and music for Team Back on Track this year.
“My process is to pick the music first, and then I let the music give me ideas for the choreography,” Montague said. “I am not making the music fit the choreography; the choreography is a result of the music. I get an intuitive feeling because the Challenge is very much an audience event, and I was driven to music that I knew the audience could connect with and relate to.”
The choreographer for Team Merrill Lynch, Ruth Hogan Poulsen, has been involved with the design of the Challenge’s dressage quadrilles for the past 10 years.
“My mom is a breast cancer survivor of 35 years, and that is very close to my heart,” Poulsen said. “There are so many of us who have friends, neighbors, and family who are touched by cancer, so the least I can do is put in all this time and energy to do the Challenge.”
While the other two choreographers often have a rough outline of their routine prior to the first week of practice, Poulsen likes to get her riders very involved in the music selection and the patterns for the routine.
“I show up with my riders at the first meeting in mid-January, and they give me input since I don’t have music or movements then,” she said. “This year, our theme on the back of our shirts is ‘We Cancer-vive,’ so all the pieces of music are about survival.”
 |
| Alvarinho Interagro & Valete Interagro at The Pink Ladies Pas de Trois. Photo by Nancy Smyth Yannetti. Valete Interagro ridden by Georgia Wren- Russ (owned by Katherine Cook) Alvarinho Interagro ridden by Heather Bender (owned by Dr. Debra Eddington) Diego Garcia Spanish/ Belgian cross ridden by Michele Riley (owned by Terry Johnson) |
Along with the three dressage quadrilles competing for top honors at the Challenge of the Americas, Heather Bender has created an entertaining exhibition pas de trois. The FEI trio is very rare due to their cremello color. The riders will be dressed as the Pink Ladies of Grease for their Friday night performance. “It is one of the most fun events that I have been involved in, and what makes it special is that we can raise money for breast cancer research,” Bender said. “The whole event is so beautiful and so much fun for everybody. There are top class horses and riders, so it’s all quality, but it’s done for fun, so we have a great time!”
Valete Interagro ridden by Georgia Wren- Russ (owned by Katherine Cook)
Alvarinho Interagro ridden by Heather Bender (owned by Dr. Debra Eddington)
Diego Garcia Spanish/ Belgian cross ridden by Michele Riley (owned by Terry Johnson)
RELATED LINKS:
The Challenge of the Americas Beneficiary: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation through their partner Play for P.I.N.K.