Photo Flash: The School of American Ballet's 2016 WINTER BALL Raises Nearly $1.2 Million

The School of American Ballet's 2016 Winter Ball took place at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater last night, March 14, 2016 and raised nearly $1.2 million. BroadwayWorld has photos from the event below!

Legendary French jeweler, Van Cleef & Arpels sponsored the glamorous, black-tie dinner dance for the ninth consecutive year. The evening began with cocktails at 7pm and dinner at 8pm, followed by a student performance choreographed specially for the occasion, and The Encore dessert and dancing. The proceeds from the event enhance every aspect of the School's extraordinary ballet training program, including helping to provide $2 million annually in student scholarships, as well as supporting faculty, maintaining world-class studios and offering vital student programs beyond the classroom.

"SAB is grateful to our sponsor Van Cleef & Arpels, our wonderful event chairs and all the generous attendees for a successful evening, which raised over $1.1 million for the School's scholarship and student life programs," said Margie Van Dercook, executive director of the School of American Ballet.

This glamorous annual dinner dance was attended by 500 patrons, including the School's board members and alumni as well as leaders from the New York corporate and social communities.

Notable attendees included: Joyce C. Giuffra (Chairman), Julia Koch (Chairman), Serena Lese (Chairman), Noreen K. Ahmad (Young Patron Chairman), Amanda Brotman Schetritt (Young Patron Chairman), Peter Martins (Artistic Director/Chairman of Faculty), Kay Mazzo Bellas (Co-chairman of Faculty), Darci Kistler (SAB Faculty, former NYCB Principal Dancer), Dena Abergel (SAB Faculty), Katrina Killian (SAB Faculty), Allen Peiffer (SAB Faculty), Suzy Pilarre (SAB Faculty), Lisa de Ribere (SAB Faculty), Suki Schorer (SAB Faculty), Sheryl Ware (SAB Faculty), Ashley Bouder (NYCB Principal Dancer), Gonzalo Garcia (NYCB Principal Dancer), Joaquin De Luz (NYCB Principal Dancer), Ask la Cour (NYCB Principal Dancer), Lauren Lovette (NYCB Principal Dancer), Daniel Ulbricht (NYCB Principal Dancer), Wendy W. Chong, Stephanie A. Linka, Kellie Johnson Abreu, Lucy Anda, Elisabeth M. Armstrong, Michele and Timothy Barakett, Albert Bellas, Michael Bennie, Scott and Donya Bommer, Norman B. Champ III, Patricia Chernicky, Maggie Chong, Kristin and John Clark, Linda S. Daines, James G. Dinan, Patricia Dugan, Benan and Thomas Ellis, Micaela Erlanger, Lisa Maria and Philip Falcone, Alexander J. Farkas, Edith Fassberg, Fe and Alessandro Fendi, Stephanie and Andrew Finch, Effie and Bob Fribourg, Jane H. Furse, Kylie Gattinella, Bob Giuffra, Jenny Slayton-Green, Katherine Eckert Grunder, Robert Grunder, Duane Hampton, Alex van Hoek, Judith M. Hoffman, Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Kleinschmidt, Fred Koch, Caroline Lagerfelt, Margo Langenberg, Bill Lese, Nancy and Duncan MacMillan, Marie Nugent-Head Marlas, James C. Marlas, Elizabeth R. Miller, Elizabeth and Richard Miller, Virginia A. Millhiser, Arthur Mitchell, Peri and Neda Navab, Ellen and George Needham, Amy D. Newman, Darcy and Andy Nussbaum, Andy Oshrin, Elizabeth T. Peek, William Perlmuth, Honorable Susan Phillips Read, Jill and Dillon Remler, Antoine Schetritt, Sally Ann Shreeves, Max R. Shulman (Bud), Michelle Smith, Barbara Apple Sullivan, Alyssa and Marco Tablada, Linda and Edward Villella, Barbara Vogelstein, Monica Voldstad, Tanya Warren, Chip Zien.

For this year's Winter Ball, designer Ron Wendt was inspired by the rich emerald greens of the Northern Lights. The sparkle of forest green sequin tablecloths added glamour to the evening while clouds of crisp white azaleas sprung from velvety moss in gold polished brass boxes with pillar candles. Fifteen-foot tall gold and silver mobiles were suspended above the dining area, evoking the aurora borealis in the gilded ceiling of the David Koch H. Theater.

A highlight of the evening was a one-time-only performance by the students of the School of American Ballet choreographed by Peter Walker, who was selected by Peter Martins, Artistic Director and Chairman of Faculty for SAB, for the second consecutive year.

"I was thrilled with Peter Walker's choreography again this year. What a delight it has been to share both Peter's achievements as a dance-maker and the wonderful dancing of our young students with our School's supporters at the Winter Ball," said Mr. Martins.

Famed French jeweler, Van Cleef & Arpels, again acted as the lead corporate sponsor for the gala. This long-standing partnership is a tribute to the friendship shared between SAB founder, George Balanchine, and one of the Van Cleef & Arpels founding brothers, Claude Arpels, who established the Maison in New York in 1939. Their shared passion for exceptional stones inspired a creative partnership that resulted in Balanchine's Jewels ballet and its sumptuous costumes.

The event was led by Chairmen Joyce C. Giuffra, Julia F. Koch, and Serena Lese; and Young Patron Chairmen Noreen K. Ahmad and Amanda Brotman Schetritt.

Photo Credit: Erin Baiano