THE SLEEPING BEAUTY SOIREE  Benefits The Washington Ballet's Artistic Programs

The Sleeping Beauty Soiree - a fundraiser hosted by the Women's Committee of The Washington Ballet - raised $140,000 the evening of Friday, February 8 to benefit the company's artistic programs. Over 250 guests were transported through a magical forest and into Princess Aurora's 16th birthday celebration at the Homer Building in downtown Washington, D.C. The enchanted world of The Sleeping Beauty complete with heralding trumpeters, dueling knights, courtiers, singers from the Washington Revels and costumed dancers from The Washington Ballet provided a medieval backdrop that paired with a gourmet buffet, signature cocktails, and dancing.

Co-Chairs Rachel Firschein, Glenda Harvey, Sara Lange and Kim Pyle helped plan the event and encouraged attendees to come dressed in Royal Court attire. "It was an immersive experience," said TWB Board member Sara Lange, "that was the perfect complement to the ballet's now sold out production of this classic fairytale."

Raffle tickets with prizes featuring dinner for six people with Artistic Director Julie Kent and Associate Artistic Director Victor Barbee, tickets to The Nutcracker or 28 bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne were sold and awarded. The evening concluded with everyone - including company members of The Washington Ballet - dancing to the music of DJ ALKIMIST.

Proceeds raised will provide critical funds to support high quality classical and contemporary ballets in our community as well as Julie Kent's artistic vision to build national recognition for The Washington Ballet.

Generous support for The Sleeping Beauty Soiree was provided by Total Wine and More, Occasions Caterers, Bloomingdales and Akridge.

The Washington Ballet (TWB) was founded as The Washington School of Ballet by Mary Day in 1944 and incorporated as a professional company in 1976. At the helm is internationally acclaimed ballerina Julie Kent. As The Washington Ballet's Artistic Director, Kent's mission is to build a world-class dance company in the Nation's Capital, by continuing the tradition of classical ballet and contributing to the evolution of the art form through contemporary works and new commissions. The Washington Ballet strives to reflect the diversity of the community and the nation through its dancers and its repertoire. Kent has introduced into the repertoire seminal works by George Balanchine, Frederick Ashton, Jerome Robbins, Antony Tudor, Justin Peck and Alexei Ratmansky while embracing the work of emerging choreographers including Clifton Brown, Gemma Bond, and Ethan Stiefel, among others. Her commitment to the development of both the dancer and the art form is fulfilled through the presentation of beloved classic 19th-century ballets and landmark 20th-century works while reaffirming a commitment to commissioned works that will contribute to the evolution of ballet and its relevance in our times. TWB's three-part mission: ensuring excellence in its professional performance company; growing the next generation of dancers through its school, professional training programs, and Studio Company; and serving the community in which it resides through community engagement programs will continue to propel TWB to a more prominent place within the nation's capital and beyond.

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