Catherine D. Anspon | Photos by Fulton Davenport
- Posted:
- July 02, 2012
- Event Date:
- February 15, 2012
Setting the Stage
Talk about reimagining a gala: Chairman Becca Cason Thrash devised a delicious new theme for this spring’s Ballet Ball. The result? The beautiful early spring evening at the Wortham Theater Center — christened “Aubergine,” a palette exceptionally realized by Miz Thrash’s Zac Posen ball gown with its endlesssssssss train — hit, and then wildly exceeded, the million-dollar mark. But there’s more than money here to talk about. Miz Thrash, her chair husband John Thrash, and fellow chairs Greggory and Patrick Burk reigned over one of the most imaginative fund-raising fêtes ever for the Houston Ballet. There was even a new component: Art for Art’s Sake, an auction of important (mostly Texas) art, overseen by yours truly. More on that in a moment. Other star players upon the social stage included design sponsor Richard Flower’s The Events Company, which choreographed the splendid table settings festooned with grapes and profuse florals, and City Kitchen, which concocted the seated dinner led off by Aubergine Blanc (eggplant stuffed with crabmeat and pomegranates). Not to be overlooked were this soirée’s honoree, beloved social scribe Shelby Hodge, on the arm of architect husband Shafik Rifaat; co-chairs Sue and Lester Smith; Diane Lokey Farb, squired by Mark Sullivan; Margaret Williams, whose name graces a theater in the new Ballet Center for Dance, with Jim Daniel; and Omega’s Stephen Urquhart, stepping up as a big table buyer. But the biggest buzz came from talents that were not there, but were represented by giant flashing images projected upon the walls of the Wortham’s soaring Grand Foyer — a curated collection of major masterworks donated by artists invited by Mizes Thrash, Burk and this scribe, from a Joe Mancuso abstracted pink blossom that went home with Karen Pulaski to Molly Gochman’s photographic self-portrait won by McKay Otto, who also contributed one of his own ethereal canvases to the cause (it was snapped up at the preview party a week earlier at Maison Thrash; stay tuned for our coverage in next month’s issue). Besides the fervor around the art, silent-auction heat also came from a collection of dazzling rings designed by covetable jewelers including Katy Briscoe, Judith Ripka, Katie Decker and Michael Tracy. All told, the art and bauble auction riches helped raise the barre on this tutu to-do to new heights: $1.4 million, making for a magnificent pairing of performing and visual talents unequaled in our town.
Grand Jeté: Painting the Town, Gem Gazing
Executive director C.C. Conner, preparing to stepping down from the helm of the Houston Ballet (what a retirement party!)
Artistic director Stanton Welch escorting swan Lynn Wyatt
Alexandra Knight in Lanvin with husband Brady
Karen and Mel Payne, gliding on the dance floor
James Nelson, incoming Ballet executive director who began his career as a student in the Academy
Gallerist Wade Wilson, donating works by artists Joseph Cohen and Lucinda Cobley to the cause
John Evatz
Melissa and Michael Mithoff, she in Kaufman Franco
Jacqueline and Leon Kinloch, in from Chicago
Headliner Laudau Murphy Jr., America’s Got Talent winner, serenading the crowd with Sinatra standards while the David Caceres Band played
Ballet Barre member Lindsey Brown
Judith Oudt in Naeem Khan
Monsour Taghdisi, thrilled with his new Perry House architectural canvas (perfect for a home builder, we say)
Patti and Don Murphy
Isabel and Danny David, about to welcome a new addition
Jo and Jim Furr, last year’s chairs who celebrated her birthday one day early
Krista and Michael Dumas, exclaiming, “I can’t believe we got a James Surls!”
Party Query: When and where was the last time you wore a leotard?
Greggory Burk:
“I had a pale yellow leotard that Ralph Lauren called a ‘top’ in the early 90s. I rocked it with my wrap skirts at SMU.”
Patrick Burk:
“I don’t understand, why would I ever wear a leotard?”