Behind the Mask: When Elegance Meets Purpose
- Erin Drake
- Nov 14
- 2 min read
We are thrilled to share that Rx Ballroom Dance’s Masquerade Ball has been featured in five Southern California newspapers, celebrating a night where beauty met purpose and movement became medicine.
📰 Read the full coverage in:
A Night of Glamour, Generosity, and Hope
On October 18, 2025, the ballroom at Sway Ballroom Dance shimmered with chandeliers, laughter, and heartfelt purpose as guests gathered for the Rx Ballroom Dance Masquerade Ball: “Behind the Mask.” The event wasn’t just an evening of elegance, it was a movement.
Dancers living with Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s took the stage, declaring through every graceful step that movement is medicine. Their performances reflected not only beauty and strength but also the unshakable spirit of perseverance, healing, and connection.
Raising $37,195 for Hope in Motion
Thanks to the generosity of our guests, sponsors, and donors, the evening raised an incredible $37,195 to support free and scholarship-based therapeutic ballroom dance programs across Southern California. These funds directly empower seniors and individuals with neurological conditions to rediscover joy, confidence, and community through dance.
Proceeds will also advance our ongoing research partnership with Concordia University Irvine, exploring the physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits of ballroom dance as therapy.
Honoring Those Who Make It Possible
The night’s success was made possible through the support of visionary and luminary sponsors including:Legacy Endowment Foundation, Dr. Richard Graham & Dr. Audrey Schwarzbein, Bobbi Wise, Jeannine Smith, James & Susan Irvine, and Bob & Marcia Kelley.
Their shared belief that beauty and generosity can coexist illuminated the ballroom, reminding everyone in attendance that when we dance together, hope takes center stage.
A Shared Vision for Healing Through Movement
For Founder and Executive Director Erin Drake Angelo, the event was a reflection of what Rx Ballroom Dance stands for: turning rhythm, music, and connection into medicine for the mind and body.
“Behind every mask was a story of perseverance,” Erin shared. “When people with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s get to dance, it’s not just about movement—it’s about reclaiming their power, their identity, and their joy.”
📸 Photography by Mike Humphries
💃 Thank you to everyone who helped make this unforgettable night possible.
Together, we are proving that the rhythm of hope continues to reach those who need it most.
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