It has become a highly anticipated Southern California December tradition, the American Ballet Theatre’s dazzling holiday benefit which takes place at the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton.
The December 11 event was a gala evening, beginning with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and continuing with a full dinner and a dessert buffet.
But the main item on the menu was of course, stellar dancing. Where else can you see excerpts from some of the greatest classic ballets in history and some modern new versions of the art form in one fantastic evening?
ABT could not have presented a more diverse group of performances in terms of style, era and costume design. There were excerpts from “Swan Lake,” “The Nutcracker,” “Whipped Cream,” “Harlequinade,” “Thirteen Diversions,” “I Feel the Earth Move,” “Les Bourgeois” and ”Elegy Pas de Deux” performed on stage.
An obvious crowd favorite was the Arabian dance from “The Nutcracker,” the classic Tchaikovsky ballet which ABT will be performing at Orange County’s Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts through December 17.
The featured dancers, in order of appearance, were Gillian Murphy, Cory Stearns, Calvin Royal III, Skyler Brandt, Gabe Stone Shayer, Cassandra Trenary, Stella Abrera, Thomas Forster, Misty Copeland, Blaine Hoven, Daniil Simkin, Hee Seo and Roman Zhurbin.
Copeland and Abrera both have strong ties to Southern California. Copeland’s performance of “I Feel the Earth Move,” a duet with Blaine Hoven, featured choreography by Benjamin Millepied with music by Philip Glass.
Abrera’s dance with Thomas Forster in “Thirteen Diversions” was choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon with music by Benjamin Britten.
All of the performances received a warm response from the audience of 350 people. At their conclusion, ABT Executive Director Kara Medoff Barnett thanked the dancers and the guests, as had ABT board chairman Andy Barth and artistic director Kevin McKenzie.
“ABT is America’s national ballet company, and we travel all over the country and around the world,” she said. “Our offices and rehearsal studios may be in New York City, but Southern California is our second home.”
The gala was sponsored by Harry Winston, which showcased its stunning jewelry during the cocktail hour. The benefit honored Judy Morr, executive VP of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
The evening’s co-chairs were Sarah Arison, Avery and Andy Barth, Lisa Love, Michael Moser, Elizabeth Segerstrom, Hannah Selleck, Stewart Smith and Robin Ferracone and Sutton Stracke.
Proceeds from the holiday benefit support American Ballet Theatre and its educational programs.
