Great food, a great cause, and plenty of teased hair and blue eye shadow came together on Thursday night at “Shake Your Groove,” the Westport Arts Center’s 80s dance party sponsored by Shake Shack. The event—which had a community performance art vibe—raised funds for the Center’s education programs that deliver arts experiences to communities throughout Fairfield County.
The 80s cover band Orange Crush kept the crowd moving with their impressive renditions of the decade’s familiar anthems, and the Shake Shack crew kept everyone well fed with an assortment of shakes, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and those irresistible crinkle fries. Fun touches included a 80s trivial pursuit game, with cards set up on tables for attendees to test their 80s know-how, and a deliciously realistic cheeseburger sculpture.
A silent auction featured a vast array of goods and services. Attendees bid on gems that included four tickets to the Westport Country Playhouse along with dinner at the Dressing Room, a private VIP tour of the Philip Johnson Glass House, and (my personal favorite) a commissioned lenticular art work by Westport artist Miggs Burroughs, among others. Two of the priceless items on offer: The Late Show with David Letterman contributed two tickets to a taping of the show, and News Channel 12 provided a “T.V. Weatherman or Sportscaster for a Day” experience for kids.
- Connections, providing arts education at Norwalk’s Side-by-Side Community School and Bridgeport’s Bridge Academy
- Special Arts @ WAC, designed for students who may require individual attention in the classroom
- New Media Lab, offering courses in photography, animation, and film for youth and adults at its 42 Main St. location in Westport
- WAC Gives Back, delivering artists-in-residence to underserved populations, including hospitalized children, military veterans and their families, and individuals in hospice care and elderly facilities.
If you missed the event, here’s an easy (and delicious!) way to support the Westport Arts Center’s education programs: Next time you’re at Shake Shack, order the ‘Sasco Crete. Shake Shack contributes 5 percent of proceeds from the sale of the sweet treat to Connections.
For more photos, visit the "Shake Your Groove" Facebook photo album.
The Westport Arts Center is located at 51 Riverside Ave. in Westport. Gallery hours are For more information, visit their website at westportartscenter.org/or phone (203) 222-7070.