Singing and dancing in memory of Andrea Rizzo

As the Mark Buttice and the Swing Easy Band performed and sang the music, the Lawrence Schools Dance Department danced to the songs of Ol’ blue eyes, Frank Sinatra, to help support the Andrea Rizzo Memorial Foundation at the “Come Dance With Me!” benefit dance and mini music concert presented by the Christina Mazzitelli Academy of Fine and Performing Arts at the John M. Pancia Performing Arts Center at Lawrence High School on March 6.

Buttice on vocals and his band, keyboardist, Tim Regusis; percussionist Ian Petillo and bassist John Ray performed a selection of several Sinatra songs. The student dancers boogied to a few Sinatra songs, including “Luck be a Lady Tonight” and “The Best is Yet to Come.”

Rizzo, survived cancer through her childhood, but was killed at 24 by a drunk driver. It was a dream of hers to become a dance therapist and introduce dance to children with cancer or disabilities. Through the foundation begun by her mother Susan, Rizzo’s dream of helping children with cancer or special needs has become a reality.

Laila Sales directed and choreographed the show, Felipe Arroyave was the assistant choreographer and stage manager and Matthew Mulherin and Rob Verdone provided stage direction. Lawrence’s Dance Honor Society, music department and Italian Club sponsored the event.