
Something New
Martina Couto
Choreography Paola Vicente

At Ascendance Studio, we desire to instill compassion, perspective, and a sense of greater purpose in our dancers. We believe it’s important to help our students understand that dance is not just about trophies and titles—it can also be a powerful tool for connection, advocacy, and change.
In a community as competitive as South Florida’s dance scene, we want to provide our dancers with opportunities to think beyond the stage and support causes that truly matter. Many of our dancers and families have been personally touched by cancer, and this initiative is one meaningful way we can stand beside them and the larger community.
As a Hope Studio, we are proud to use our platform to inspire empathy, encourage service, and teach valuable life lessons that will stay with our dancers far beyond the studio walls.

The Hope Studio program collaborates with dance studios across the country to foster community involvement and raise funds for families battling cancer. By becoming a Hope Studio, Ascendance Studio aligns itself with a noble cause, transforming our space into a hub of philanthropy and support.
As a Hope Studio, we join a nationwide network of dance communities committed to making a difference. This partnership not only aids those in dire need but also instills a deep sense of generosity and unity among our dancers and their families. Our involvement brings our community closer together, creating a legacy of compassion and action that resonates well beyond the dance floor.

This year, we are proud to introduce our very first DAC Gala Show—an inspiring performance that brings together our talented soloists, duets, and trio who have generously chosen to donate their artistry in support of a meaningful cause. This special event celebrates both their dedication and the power of the arts to make a difference. All proceeds from the gala will go directly toward advancing this wonderful mission.
Together, the Ascendance Studio family is dancing for a purpose, spreading hope, and making a difference.

Valentina and Rafael have spent years building Ascendance Studio into a home for dancers of every age and stage. When they first talked about putting on a gala, the idea was simple: bring their dance community together for something bigger than a single performance. Both had watched cancer touch the people they loved, and both believed dance could be more than art on a stage — it could be a way to give back.
As the owners of the studio, they already had a company of dancers ready to rally behind the cause. They brought Ascendance Studio Company to the stage, partnered with Dancers Against Cancer, and began shaping an evening where every ticket, every donation, and every number on the program would go toward supporting families facing a cancer diagnosis. Producing the gala has meant late nights, countless rehearsals, and a shared belief that a community of dancers, choreographers, and supporters can turn an evening of movement into real, lasting help for the people who need it most.
Valentina R. Bagala
Producer and Artistic Director
Rafael E. Savino
Co-Producer
We're not just producing a show — we're inviting our whole community to dance for a reason. Every seat filled is hope passed on.
— Valentina & Rafael

This year's gala has a host who knows exactly what the evening is for. Tia Stokes — dancer, choreographer, and business owner — will guide the audience through the program and the cause behind it.
Tia's connection to Dancers Against Cancer isn't abstract. During her own cancer treatment, she kept doing the thing she loved most: she danced. Videos of her dancing through chemotherapy spread across the internet, turning hospital hallways and treatment rooms into stages and reminding millions of people that joy and movement can coexist with the hardest days.
What started as a personal way to stay grounded became a message that resonated far beyond her own story. As a survivor, a choreographer, and the owner of her own dance business, Tia has spent the years since using her platform to support others facing a diagnosis — and to show that a dance community can rally around its own. Hosting the gala is a natural extension of that work: an evening where her story, the performers on stage, and every supporter in the room are pointed at the same purpose.
Dancing got me through the hardest year of my life. Hosting this gala is my way of dancing for everyone still in the middle of their fight.
— Tia Stokes
Every dancer on this program has personally chosen to perform in our DAC Benefit Show — a voluntary commitment to use their artistry to raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer. The numbers you'll see tonight are their competitive solos and duets, placed in service of Dancers Against Cancer and the families facing this fight. Thirty-one performances across two acts. Settle in, and enjoy the show.

Martina Couto
Choreography Paola Vicente

Andrea Bravo
Choreography Valentina R. Bagala

Jade Alfonso
Choreography Kristy Baker

Marian Vicente
Choreography Sarah Barrascout

Alessandra Savino
Choreography Kristy Baker

Ainhoa Azpurua
Choreography Valentina R. Bagala

Valquiria Puga
Choreography Sofia Suarez

Adriana Bravo
Choreography Valentina R. Bagala

Alyssa Him
Choreography Paola Espinoza

Catalina Sobrino
Choreography Valentina R. Bagala

Maya Viera
Choreography Paola Vicente

Isabella Vargas
Choreography Sarah Barrascout

Emma Viera
Choreography Paola Vicente

Maria Mendez
Choreography Valentina R. Bagala

Miranda Acosta
Choreography Paola Espinoza

Alana Castillo Abad
Choreography Valentina R. Bagala

Giuliana Guacci-Rozanes
Choreography Valentina R. Bagala

Gabriela Cruz
Choreography Paola Vicente

Valentina Paez
Choreography Sofia Suarez

Emma Fonseca
Choreography Sofia Suarez

Lucia Gil
Choreography Sarah Barrascout

Cristina Reyes
Choreography Sofia Suarez

Fiorella Angel
Choreography Valentina R. Bagala

Emma Loustalet
Choreography Paola Vicente

Nicole Diaz
Choreography Paola Espinoza

Kamila Parejo
Choreography Paola Vicente

Jade Alfonso
Choreography Paola Vicente


Adriana Bravo & Andrea Bravo
Choreography Valentina R. Bagala

Alessandra Savino
Choreography Sofia Suarez

Marian Vicente
Choreography Kristy Baker

Ainhoa Azpurua
Choreography Valentina R. Bagala
The DAC Gala comes to life through the generosity of partners, sponsors, and a dedicated group of individuals who lend their time and talent. We are grateful to everyone who helps make this night of hope possible.

ASC DAC Ambassador

Choreographer & Production Support

Production Support

Choreographer

Choreographer

Choreographer & Social Media

Choreographer
Real voices from our community. Watch how dance, courage, and the support of Dancers Against Cancer have carried families through their hardest seasons.
The DAC Gala is more than one unforgettable night of dance — it is a lifeline. Every ticket purchased and every dollar donated goes directly to Dancers Against Cancer, helping dance families facing a cancer diagnosis cover treatment costs, travel, and everyday expenses when they need it most.
Can't attend? Sharing the gala with your community is its own kind of generosity — it widens the circle of support and helps us reach the families who need it. However you choose to give, you become part of a movement that turns the joy of dance into real, tangible hope.
Reserve your seat for an unforgettable evening of dance — proceeds support the cause.
Get TicketsGive directly to Dancers Against Cancer — any amount makes a difference for a family in need.
Donate NowShare the gala with your friends and family to help us reach more supporters.