The Washington Ballet’s Cinderella Ball, held last Friday in the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, raised the bar for themed events of its kind, so integrated were elements of program, decor and treats.
“Once Upon a Ball There Will Be an Enchanted Evening” was the promise on the multipage invitation (tickets priced at $500 to tables for $50,000) which concluded with the line, “Feel free to leave your stepsisters at home.” Indeed, wallflowers — if any — were lost in the crowd of fancily begowned guests sitting on white-tulle-bedecked chairs, quaffing champagne and dining on lobster followed by an artfully designed dessert of brown and white chocolate that replicated in detail Cinderella’s royal carriage.
Between courses, two of the company’s dancers performed an excerpt from “Cinderella,” opening Wednesday at the Warner Theatre. That was well after arriving guests had been saluted by trumpet-playing courtiers at the entrance and entertained inside by living tableaux representing characters in the famous fairy tale. which, like this event, has a happy ending.
So did the 500-some patrons, opening gift bags containing two free tickets to a company performance in October plus a box of chocolates whose contents were four high-heeled “slippers.” What else? Oh, the towering floral centerpieces on the tables and a dance floor jammed to the hilt into the wee hours. No fear of a midnight chime at this ball. If anything, ball-goers came away with memories of a fairy godmother somehow waving her magic wand to new heights. Even the weather cooperated.
The lure to pull in the lucre? “We love the ballet,” said co-chairmen Jean-Marie and Raul Fernandez, who have two daughters and a son, all under 6 years of age. Naturally, everybody in the family goes regularly to the ballet productions. “Even the boy.”
They rallied their friends to the cause in great numbers, even if some — such as former Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner — could not attend. (He was said to be out campaigning for the U.S. Senate.) “We should have been at a wedding in Florida,” Mrs. Fernandez said, but priorities are priorities.
“A relief from politics,” said ardent Hillary Clinton backer Dr. Ronald Dozoretz, entering a crowded reception. “We love the Fernandezes and Septime Webre.” Mr. Webre, the company’s artistic director, was airborne throughout, dashing to greet well-wishers and introducing 25 members of his company to all.
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty stayed as long as possible at the reception, then sped off to multiple other events on his calendar. Staying on were District Council member Jack Evans, Mary and Bobby Haft, Ludmila and Conrad Cafritz, Kenneth and Bonnie Feld, Aimee and Robert Lehrman, Mark Ein, John Firestone, Gahl Burt, Mary (ambassadress-with-the-mostest-wardrobe) and Mandy Ourisman and Singaporean Ambassador Chan Heng Chee.
— Ann Geracimos
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