The American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Spring Gala is an annual event that typically takes place at The Metropolitan Opera House. This year, however, the gala was held at Cipriani 42nd Street, offering guests a more intimate and up-close experience.
Fashion-forward attendees arrived in their finest attire, with notable looks from Aoki Lee Simmons in a Roger Vivier vest and black slacks, Katie Holmes in a floaty Pucci number, and Alessia Fendi in vintage Bob Mackie. The dancers also served looks, styled by PJ Pascual, with Stella Abrera in Marchesa, Gillian Murphy in Oscar de la Renta, and Erica Lall in Et Ochs.
After a cocktail hour, attendees took their seats adjacent to a temporary stage that had been installed in the stately ballroom for one night only. The evening’s program began with an honor for Chai Vasarhelyi, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind projects such as “Free Solo” and “The Rescue.” Vasarhelyi spoke about her admiration for the dancers and the company, saying, “The work my husband and I do might thrill some of you, but we are always thrilled by the beauty, athleticism, and passion of this amazing dance company.”
The evening continued with several excerpts previewing ABT’s upcoming summer season, which takes place from June 18 to July 20. Given the floor plan and the dinner tables’ proximity to the action, patrons were thrilled to be able to see their favorite dancers’ every move in intricate, awe-inspiring detail.
A particular highlight came in the form of two previews of world-renowned British choreographer Wayne McGregor’s “Woolf Works.” The award-winning ballet, accompanied by music composed by Max Richter and inspired by the writings of Virginia Woolf, will have its New York premiere this June. Calvin Royal III and Chloe Misseldine, and James Whiteside and Devon Teuscher, respectively, performed excerpts from two of the ambitious and artistic work’s three acts.
Other dancers who took to the stage included Skylar Brandt, Jake Roxander, Gillian Murphy, Thomas Forster, Christine Shevchenko, Cory Stearns, Isabella Boylston, Joo Won Ahn, Cassandra Trenary, Herman Cornejo, Catherine Hurlin, and Aran Bell. They performed teasers of crowd-favorites including “AfterEffect,” “Push Comes to Shove,” and “The Brahms-Haydn Variations,” the latter of which enjoyed its New York premiere during ABT’s summer season last year.
As always, attendees were invited to take a leaf out of the dancers’ books and join them on the dancefloor following dessert. Those who preferred to remain in the audience can look forward to seeing the full performances at the Metropolitan Opera House next month.
