Last night at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, a celebration of the New York City Ballet Spring Gala commenced with two world premieres. Guests, including Diana Taylor (chair of the NYCB board of directors), Michael Bloomberg, Lauren Chan, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Fe Fendi, Carolina Hererra, and Steve Gonzalez, among others, arrived at the magical reception hall for a cocktail hour. The group was dressed in vivid ensembles and was ready to celebrate spring’s awakening with a glorious night at the ballet.
As the clock struck 7:00 pm, the performances commenced. Tony-winning director Christopher Wheeldon (who celebrated his 22nd production for the NYCB) unveiled his latest creation, From You Within Me. All twelve dancers, dressed in resplendent red and blue unitards, seemed to defy the laws of gravity, effortlessly soaring through the air with a mesmerizing blend of poise, strength, and grace that left the spectators in awe.
The evening also marked the debut of Canadian choreographer Alysa Pires, presenting her commission for the organization Standard Deviation. With a soulful saxophone performance by Chris Hemingway, the theatrical spectacle celebrated the timeless traditions of ballet, juxtaposed with contemporary movements of perfect symmetry, creating a mesmerizing fusion of old and new that provoked a standing ovation from the audience. “It’s one of the biggest—if not the biggest—commissions of my career, and to work in such a storied institution that has a legacy of incredible new choreography and to simply be part of that is mindblowing,” Pires tells Vogue. Due to the unprecedented delays brought on by the pandemic, Pires devoted the last four years to perfecting her masterpiece, drawing inspiration from her daughter to craft a choreography that was nothing short of flawless. “Especially because of my daughter, I have so much more perspective on what this means, and this is all just so incredible, but the best part of my day is when I go home to be with her.”
The final act of the evening, Justin Peck’s The Times Are Racing, proved to be a tour de force of choreographic virtuosity, captivating the audience, who remained perched on the edge of their seats throughout the performance. As the 20 dancers moved with electrifying precision and speed, their performance was in perfect synchronicity with the thrilling music of Dan Deacon that left the audience’s hearts racing in unison with the performers.
As the curtains drew to a close, guests paraded their way to the promenade for dinner and basked in the whimsical decor that pervaded the space. Table settings were decorated with fresh orchids in vivid magenta, with blush pink and baby blue hydrangeas suspended from the ceiling. Pink and purple lights cast a warm, romantic glow, radiating the room with the aura of spring. During the dinner program, Allyson Tang, the NYCB event chair, commended the performances of the evening and expressed her gratitude to all of the supporters of the ballet, who helped NYCB be a beacon of joy and inspiration. “At NYCB, we have 100 diamonds; they are our dancers that shine and sparkle on and off stage,” she said.
Guests indulged in the bounty of the season, savoring delicacies ranging from oven-dried heirloom tomatoes atop creamy burrata to silky white chocolate cheesecake complemented by poached apricots and coconut gelato. As the night wore on, attendees swarmed the dance floor, basking in an evening of artistic ecstasy and excitement for the season.
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