Nearly 50 dancers from Ballet Hispanico, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Parsons Dance, Jacoby and Pronk, Rasta Thomas and [the] Bad Boys of Dance, Ellis Wood Dance and the Atlanta Ballet participated in the event. Choreographers Jerry Mitchell and Jennifer Muller were among those who showcased their work and “View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg and Canadian-born comedienne Caroline Rhea shared emcee duties.

The idea of love was dominated Ballet Hispanico’s opening performance “Tres Bailes” or “Three Dances.” It featured three female dancers wearing bright magenta and red costumes opening the number with flamenco-inspired hand claps as two men wearing flowing black half tunics rose and dramatically tore them off. And the sounds of the bandoneón (an instrument related to the concertina) conjured up images of a passionate summer night spent along the Río de la Plata in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

Dancers Drew Jacoby and Rubinald Pronk embraced on stage as though they were enthralled lovers with a certain ying and yang that reflected the title of the appropriately titled “One.” “Bend to Me,” a piece choreographed by David Parsons, portrayed a woman who appeared to climb a very stoic potential male suitor in a desperate attempt to win his affections. “Break Through,” a piece choreographed by Jermaine Browne, showcased the saga between a pink-clad prison inmate and the guard with whom he eventually fell in love.

Other themes also came into play. Vernard J. Gilmore tapped into the angst and fear many Americans continue to feel about the slumping economy and other pressing issues with his piece “Can U See?” Atlanta Ballet dancers Peng-Yu Chen and Tara Lee showed the audience born-again Christians, girls who have been 40 for 25 years and even Hutus and Tutsis from Rwanda are among the myriad of women people can like, while Ellis Wood Dance used black costumes complete with tutus to examine gender constructions in their “A Meditation on Movement and Gender Identity.”

Rhea, who is seven and a half months pregnant, was always quick to chime in her characteristic humor and a steady stream of self-deprecating one-liners and zingers. She quipped tap dancer Jason Samuels Smith was a particular delight for both her and her unborn child.

“My baby was saying… uh ha,” Rhea said.

Founded by former Paul Taylor dancers Hernando Cortez and Denise Roberts Hurlin in 1991, DRA and parent organization Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has raised more than $130 million to combat the epidemic. The FIDF has contributed more than $1 million to HIV and AIDS outreach and prevention groups across the country and raised $307,000 during this year’s installment.

Hurlin was quick to note she feels it has come a long way since it first took place at Stan Howard and Filoteo Maningat’s home in 1995.

“Fourteen years ago, the festival started as an escape from our lives,” she said. “Now the event is part of the fabric of the Pines.”

DRA producer Ariadne Villarreal agreed.

“It is truly a community event,” she said.

Smith has a personal connection to the FIDF. His brother succumbed to AIDS and his aunt currently lives with HIV. Smith added he feels the beach added a unique element to his performance.

“It’s a very unique island,” he said.

Dancer Giovanni Perez, who was one of the prisoners in “Break Through,” further praised both FIDF organizers and the festival itself.

“The fact that this is for Dancers Responding to AIDS and [on] Fire Island is unbelievable,” he said.