FIRST OFF . . .

Mikhail Baryshnikov, Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor and Peter Martins--all directors of major American dance companies--Tuesday announced plans to collaborate on a major dance benefit for AIDS research. Jerome Robbins will direct the event, called “Dancing for Life,” on Oct. 5 at Lincoln Center in New York. The participating dance companies include the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Martha Graham Dance Company, Joffrey Ballet and Twyla Tharp Dance. With corporate sponsors underwriting all expenses, organizers hope to raise $1.4 million, to be shared by the American Foundation for AIDS Research and numerous organizations that care for AIDS sufferers.