Rita Ora, the award-winning British singer-songwriter, will be the featured performer at MTV RE:DEFINE 2019, which will be held on Friday, March 29 at The Statler Hotel in downtown Dallas. The announcement was made today by Sami Abboud, chairman of the 2019 gala, Georgia Arnold from the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, co-hosts Joyce Goss and Kenny Goss from The Goss-Michael Foundation and Mehrdad Moayedi, Centurion American President and CEO, owner of The Statler Hotel.
Hosted by the MTV Staying Alive Foundation in collaboration with The Goss-Michael Foundation, MTV RE:DEFINE will be celebrating its eighth annual event in March, and will this year honor celebrated artist and longtime supporter of the gala Marc Quinn.
“We are so excited to have two artists whose individual ethos aligns with the MTV Staying Alive Foundation’s initiatives and who represent self-identity in two distinctly beautiful ways — Marc Quinn through his visual art and exploration of the self-portrait, and Rita Ora through her edgy take on pop culture via her unique sound and style,” commented 2019 MTV RE:DEFINE Chair Sami Abboud. “And what a pair. Their provocative art has the power to make the world stop, watch, and listen in rapt attention—we can’t wait to hear what they have to say.”
“We’re thrilled to have Rita Ora on board. Her representation of empowered women is so relevant to the Foundation’s message and we are incredibly excited to see her bring her energy to Dallas,” commented Georgia Arnold, Executive Director, MTV Staying Alive Foundation.
“The Statler is honored to be the home for the 8th annual MTV RE:DEFINE charity art exhibition and auction, an event that has raised over $12.5 million for HIV prevention. We wanted an entertainer that could live up to the legendary voices that have graced the hotel’s historic Grand Ballroom, including the Jackson 5, Tony Bennett, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Rita Ora’s single “Let Me Love You” was her thirteenth Top 10 hit in the UK last year and we’re excited to see what kind of foot-stomping performance she will put on for Dallas,” said Centurion American President and CEO, Mehrdad Moayedi.
“We are extremely grateful to our good friend Mehrdad Moayedi for his generosity in supporting MTV RE:DEFINE and the sure-to-be-electric performance by the internationally renowned Rita Ora. Our event will be an extraordinary evening at The Statler and one not to be missed,” said Kenny Goss, co-host of MTV RE:DEFINE, along with his sister-in-law and co-host, Joyce Goss.
Rita Ora is an international pop singer with multiple #1 singles and holds the record for the most Top 10 singles for a British female artist in the UK. Her US debut album Phoenix has amassed 1.5 billion streams worldwide, spawned 3 platinum singles and includes “Lonely Together,” her collaboration with Avicii which won Best Dance VMA at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards. In addition, her debut album, Ora premiered at #1 on the UK charts and was certified platinum. Rita is also a multi-talented industry leader across TV, culture and fashion, with brand partnerships across key sectors. Her film credits include the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise, Fast & Furious, Southpaw and the upcoming Detective Pikachu.
Alongside Rita’s performance, the evening will include a seated dinner in the Grand Ballroom at The Statler Hotel and a curated contemporary art and luxury item auction. The Statler Hotel, along with its owner, Mehrdad Moayedi, will be the presenting sponsors of the evening.
MTV RE: DEFINE, an annual charity art exhibition and auction, was founded in 2011 by the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and The Goss-Michael Foundation. It has grown to be one of the leading events on the contemporary arts calendar. Proceeds from MTV RE: DEFINE benefit HIV prevention and education through MTV Staying Alive Foundation and The Goss-Michael Foundation’s commitment to arts education and awareness through its curated programming. Through generous donations from leading artists and support from local and national philanthropists and sponsors, MTV RE: DEFINE has raised over $12.5 million to date. www.mtvredefine.com
