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Los Angeles, CA
(December 8, 2015) American Ballet Theatre (ABT)
celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a
Holiday Benefit December 7, 2015 at the Beverly Hilton
Hotel, Beverly Hills. The event featured a
one-night-only special performance by the world-renowned
artists of American Ballet Theatre, including
newly-promoted principal dancers Stella Abrera and Misty
Copeland, dancing scenes from the Company’s unrivaled
repertoire, followed by a post-performance dinner and
dessert with the dancers. The evening was sponsored by
Harry Winston and Lloyd E. Rigler – Lawrence E. Deutsch
Foundation. The event chairs sparkled and lit up the red
carpet with spectacular Harry Winston Diamond Jewels.
Co-Chairs included: Avery and Andy Barth, Rochelle
Gores Fredston, Eloisa Maturén, Michael Moser
(Vice-President Regional West Coast Retail, Harry
Winston), Catharine Soros, Sutton Stracke and Liane
Weintraub.
American Ballet Theatre
Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie welcomed guests noting
that “ABT has toured all 50 states, but California holds
a special place in our hearts, spanning more than 50
years, including the inaugural season at the Dorothy
Chandler Pavilion.” Further reflecting on the ties with
Southern California, he referenced the past fall opening
of the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie
School at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange
County. Beginning this year, American Ballet Theatre
will expand its presence with an annual presentation of
Alexei Ratmansky’s The Nutcracker at the
Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts with
performances running December 11-20, 2015.
The Holiday Benefit
performance included excerpts from ballet classics
including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, with
Misty Copeland reprising her sensational New York debut
as Odette/Odile from last season, and Stella Abrera, a
native Angeleno, presenting an excerpt from her
critically-acclaimed interpretation of Giselle. The
program also included American Ballet Theatre repertoire
from choreographers Paul Taylor (Company B) and
George Balanchine (Valse Fantaisie) demonstrating
the versatility and strength of the Company.www.abt.org
Among those in
attendance: Nigel Lythgoe, Jennifer Tilly, Dita Von
Teese, Jesse Metcalfe, Cara Santana, Eva La Rue, Kym
Johnson, Cheryl Burke, Lesley Ann Warren, Nora Zehetner,
Avery and Andy Barth, Rochelle Gores Fredston, Catharine
Soros, Sutton Stracke, Liane and Richard Weintraub, ABT
Board Chair Don Kramer, Harry Winston VP Regional West
Coast Retail Michael Moser, Los Angeles Music Center
President Rachel Moore, Alex and Sandrine Yust, Clara
and Larry Yust, and Victoria Yust.
ABT has been home to
many of ballet’s legendary stars – Mikhail Baryshnikov,
Natalia Makarova, Carla Fracci, Cynthia Gregory, Alicia
Alonso, and Fernando Bujones – and is renowned for its
lavish productions of full-length ballets including
Swan Lake, Giselle, La Bayadère, and Romeo and
Juliet. With a Company of 90 of the world’s most
celebrated dancers ABT performs for audiences of more
than 300,000 each year in New York City, across the
country, and around the world.
www.abt.org |