The American Ballet Theatre (ABT) hosted guests at the Cipirani for their 2024 Spring Gala, “Ballet Brilliance,” on May 14.
The event raised funds for ABT’s company and their outreach and education programs, and honored Academy Award-winning filmmaker Chai Vasarhelyi for her advocacy of classical ballet.
A selection of excerpts from the company’s upcoming 2024 Summer season were performed at the gala, including a preview of “Woolf Works,” Wayne McGregor’s contemporary ballet inspired by Virginia Woolf’s writings.
“Woolf Works” is set to premiere in New York City on June 25 at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Dancers at the performance included Joo Won Ahn, Aran Bell, Isabella Boylston, Skylar Brandt, Herman Cornejo, Thomas Forster, Catherine Hurlin, Gillian Murphy, Calvin Royal III, Christine Shevchenko, Cory Stearns, Devon Teuscher, Cassandra Trenary, James Whiteside, Chloe Misseldine and Jake Roxander.
On the red carpet, ABT Principal Dancer Calvin Royal III said he was most looking forward to the premiere of “Woolf Works,” and for New York to experience the “magic” of the production.
Calvin Royal III attends the American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 14, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for American Ballet Theatre)
“The thing I love most about being a part of ABT is that we get to tell stories through movement and connect with people, no matter if they understand what ballet’s all about or not,” Royal said. “The stories that we’re able to bring forth to our audiences connect our humanity.”
Additional repertory at the Spring Gala included excerpts from Kevin McKenzie’s production of “Swan Lake,” “Onegin” by John Cranko, “Romeo and Juliet” by Kenneth MacMillan and Christopher Wheeldon’s “Like Water for Chocolate.” Both “Swan Lake” and “Onegin” featured music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, “Romeo and Juliet” featured Sergei Prokofiev’s music and “Like Water For Chocolate” was set to music by Joby Talbot.
Katie Holmes, Kathleen Holmes and Martin Holmes attend the American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 14, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for American Ballet Theatre)
Attendees were excited to show their support for the ABT on the red carpet.
Guests included Katie Holmes, Anh Duong, Aoki Lee Simmons, Carly Cushnie, Charlotte Groeneveld, Crystal Kung Minkoff, Cynthia Rowley, Elizabeth Segerstrom, Isabella Massenet, Prince Achileas-Andreas, Lizzie Asher, Nikki Haskell, Sai De Silva, Tiler Peck, Chloe Flower, ABT Artistic Director and Interim Executive Director Susan Jaffe, ABT Executive Director Designate Barry Hughson and Melanie Hamrick.
Melanie Hamrick attends the American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 14, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for American Ballet Theatre)Melanie Hamrick — a former ABT ballerina — said that she enjoys her new role as a spectator at the ABT gala, where she can “cheer [her] friends on” in their performances and support ABT’s storytelling.
“[ABT] is the keeper of classics. They do the most classical repertory, and they tell stories and we need to keep that alive and thriving for the next generation,” Hamrick said.
