Bella Ciao Fiona – Fabulous Charity Event Celebrates the Life and Legacy of Dancer and Artist Fiona Fennell
Dublin, WIRE / A night of musical theatre, dance and true community spirit under the title “Bella Ciao Fiona” celebrated the life and legacy of dancer and artist Fiona Fennell on Good Friday.
Fiona passed away unexpectedly on Valentine’s Day after a short battle with cancer, leaving behind her 17-year old son Kyle.
Fiona’s family decided to turn the tragic loss into a positive and beautiful creation, in true Fiona style. The fаmily teamed up with volunteers from the Scientology Community Centre in Firhouse, Dublin and with 6 performing arts and stage schools to put on an upbeat variety show in honour of Fiona and her lifetime dedicated to the arts.
The event saw a lot of community support and raised over 8,000 Euros to help Kyle who is getting settled in a cabin which is being built in the garden of his aunt Nicola.
This comes, in addition, to support for the construction of the cabin via GoFundMe that so far has amounted to 31,260 Euros.
The stage on the night saw passionate performances by Attitude Dance and Stage School which is run by Fiona’s cousin Aishling Fennell who was also the creative director of the entire show; as well as by Spotlight Theatre Group; Steptacular School of Performing Arts; KNC Performing Arts; Confidance Performing Arts and The Helen Jordan Stage School, where Fiona herself had been a student.
The night was hosted by the truly magnificent Rob Murphy, who kept the audience laughing from start to finish.
The grand finale of the show was Fiona’s own time on stage – with her tap dancing shoes in the spotlight and a video edit of Fiona’s many performances throughout the years playing on the screens, the audience applauded and sang along “Bella Ciao” – an Italian upbeat song Fiona had wished to be played for those who wanted to say goodbye.
The show ended with a standing ovation for Fiona and the announcement that Fiona’s family and the team at the Scientology Community Centre will from now on hold the Bella Ciao Fiona charity event every year on Good Friday, in memory of Fiona and as part of her legacy to the world.
A cause or a family in need will be chosen every year and all proceeds from the event will go to support them.
The first Bella Ciao Fiona charity fundraiser was not only a great success but a true statement of the power the community has when it gets together to help and to heal.
