The American Ballet Theatre (ABT) kicked off its Fall season with a glamorous gala that celebrated the contributions of legendary ballerina Natalia Makarova. The evening, held on Wednesday, was a testament to the enduring legacy of ballet and the artistry of the ABT dancers.
A pre-performance cocktail reception on the terrace of the David H. Koch Theater’s promenade offered guests a perfect perch to watch the stylish arrivals in their ball gowns and black ties. Once the bell rang, the festivities moved downstairs, where the famed proscenium stage played backdrop to a mélange of excerpts highlighting what to expect this season. Artistic director Susan Jaffe introduced a special program that seamlessly blended time-honored classics and energy-charged contemporary works.
The audience was spellbound by Children’s Songs Dance, a pas de deux performed by Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside, and an emotive excerpt from Sinatra Suite, performed against a set of glittering bronze lights by Cassandra Trenary and Herman Cornejo. The crowd went wild for many of its favorite ABT stars, including Calvin Royal III, SunMi Park, Hee Seo, Cory Stearns, Rose Adagio, Christine Shevchenko, Sklar Brandt, Devon Tuescher, Thomas Forster, Chloe Misseldine, Aran Bell, Gillian Murphy, Isaac Hernandez, Jake Roxander, Catherine Hurlin, and Daniel Camargo. And, as always, smiles lit up the room when some 150 young protégés from ABT’s training programs had their moment in the spotlight.
The gala also marked the 50th anniversary of Makarova’s renowned 1974 staging of The Kingdom of the Shades. The performance, led by Christine Shevchenko, Isaac Hernandez, and the female corps de ballet, showcased the enduring influence of Makarova’s vision. Makarova, a seminal figure in the ballet world, was present at the gala and still leading in the fashion stakes in a bohemian printed kaftan and matching headscarf. She received a well-deserved standing ovation from the audience.
Inspired by the evening’s performances, guests made their way upstairs to flit around the dancefloor and catch up over cocktails. Fans eagerly asked a Silvia Tcherassi-clad Candace Bushnell to pose for photos with them, while Coco Rocha and her young daughter Ioni Conran twirled about in equally chic black dresses. Sabine Getty had rooted out an incredible Gianni Versace-era early 2000s cut-out gown for the occasion. Junior chairs Lizzie Asher (in embroidered and embellished Lanvin!), Casey Kohlberg (in shimmering Markarian sequins!), and Vogue’s own Lilah Ramzi (in ruffled vintage Vera Wang!) all notably aced the assignment too.
The ABT’s Fall season continues until November 3. With much buzz about the upcoming world premiere of Crime and Punishment, in which Helen Pickett has reimagined Dostoevsky’s novel via a trifecta of contemporary ballet, electronic dance music, and industrial set design, as well as world premieres of works by Gemma Bond and Kyle Abraham, dance lovers had better jump to planning their own next fashionable night out asap.