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New York City Ballet
2012 Spring Gala

Claire Kretzschmar and Taylor Stanley in Peter Martins’ Mes Oiseaux, with costumes by Gilles Mendel of J. Mendel
Claire Kretzschmar and Taylor Stanley in Peter Martins’ Mes Oiseaux, with costumes by Gilles Mendel of J. Mendel.

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On Thursday, May 10, 2012, New York City Ballet’s 2012 Spring Gala performance featured a one-time-only salute to France titled À La Française.  The programfeatured two World Premiere ballets, one by NYCB’s Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins to a score by the French composer Marc-André Dalbavie with costumes designed by Gilles Mendel of J. Mendel; and one by French-born choreographer and former NYCB Principal Dancer Benjamin Millepied to a commissioned score by Nico Muhly with costumes designed by Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte.  The evening also included a major revival of George Balanchine’s Symphony in C, which was created for the Paris Opera Ballet in 1947 to a score by the French composer Georges Bizet.  The revival featured new costume designs by NYCB Director of Costumes Marc Happel, earring designs by Jamie Wolf, and headpieces created by Robert Sorrell, in collaboration with Swarovski.

Natalie Portman was Honorary Chairman. Emily and Len Blavatnik, Charlotte Moss and Barry Friedberg, and Marie Nugent-Head and James C. Marlas were Gala Chairmen. Pamela Baxter, Marlene Hess, Julia Koch, Carol Mack and Nadja Swarovski were Vice Chairmen.

Guests Included:  Natalie Portman, Benjamin Millepied, Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman, Lesley Stahl, Gilles Mendel and Kylie Case, Catherine Malandrino, Leonard Lauder, Olivia Chantecaille, Grace Coddington, Alexandra Kerry, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, Carolyn Murphy, Bette Franke, Dany and Yael Boon, Waris  Ahluwalia, Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, Jill and Harry Kargman, Barbara Cirkva, Jimmy Van Bramer, Gale Brewer, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, Peggy Siegal, Peter Martins and Darci Kistler, Nico Muhly, Marc-André Dalbavie, Lisa Maria Falcone, Fe Fendi, Allison Sarofim, and the Dancers of the New York City Ballet.

There were over 800 guests in attendance and the event raised $2 million for NYCB.  The evening featured catering by Glorious Food and décor by DeJuan Stroud. The evening’s décor transformed the promenade to make guests feel as if they were in France. The French themes implemented were interpreted as the Empire Period and extended to a garden theme.

2012 Spring Gala was sponsored by Christian Dior and Swarovski.

NYCB Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins, Honorary Chairman Natalie Portman, and Event Chairmen Charlotte Moss and Marie Nugent-Head
NYCB Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins, Honorary Chairman Natalie Portman, and Event Chairmen Charlotte Moss and Marie Nugent-Head.

Event Chairmen Emily Blavatnik, Charlotte Moss, and Marie Nugent-Head with NYCB Executive Director Kathy Brown
Event Chairmen Emily Blavatnik, Charlotte Moss, and Marie Nugent-Head with NYCB Executive Director Kathy Brown.

  Patricia Shiah, Fe Fendi, Lucia Hwong Gordon and Chiu-Ti Jansen
Patricia Shiah, Fe Fendi, Lucia Hwong Gordon and Chiu-Ti Jansen.

Sara Mearns and Jonathan Stafford in George Balanchine’s Symphony in C, with costumes redesigned by Marc Happel in collaboration with Swarovski
Sara Mearns and Jonathan Stafford in George Balanchine’s Symphony in C, with costumes redesigned by Marc Happel in collaboration with Swarovski.

  Tyler Angler and Tiler Peck in Benjamin Millepied’s Two Hearts, with costumes by Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte
Tyler Angler and Tiler Peck in Benjamin Millepied’s Two Hearts, with costumes by Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte.

Gilles Mendel with NYCB Dancers (L to R) Ashly Isaacs, Lauren Lovette, Megan Fairchild, Cia Martins, Jennie Somogyi, Sara Mearns, Chase Finlay, and Claire Kretzschmar (all the ladies wearing J. Mendel)
Gilles Mendel with NYCB Dancers (L to R) Ashly Isaacs, Lauren Lovette, Megan Fairchild, Cia Martins, Jennie Somogyi, Sara Mearns, Chase Finlay, and Claire Kretzschmar (all the ladies wearing J. Mendel).

Carol Mack and Kristen Clark
Carol Mack and Kristen Clark.

  Yael Boon and Dany Boon
Yael Boon and Dany Boon.

Arie Kopelman and Coco Kopelman
Arie Kopelman and Coco Kopelman.

  Thomas Bell and Susan Krysiewicz
Thomas Bell and Susan Krysiewicz.

Will Kopelman and Drew Barrymore
Will Kopelman and Drew Barrymore.

  Laura Mulleavy and Kate Mulleavy of Rodarte
Laura Mulleavy and Kate Mulleavy of Rodarte.

Benjamin Millepied, Natalie Portman, Cia Martins, former NYCB Principal Dancer Darci Kistler and NYCB Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins
Benjamin Millepied, Natalie Portman, Cia Martins, former NYCB Principal Dancer Darci Kistler and NYCB Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins.

Jean Shafiroff
Jean Shafiroff.

  NYCB Dancers Ana Sophia Scheller and Gonzalo Garcia
NYCB Dancers Ana Sophia Scheller and Gonzalo Garcia.

Tabitha Simmons
Tabitha Simmons.

  Alexandra Kerry
Alexandra Kerry.

NYCB Principal Dancers Tiler Peck, Jennie Somogyi, and Ashley Bouder
NYCB Principal Dancers Tiler Peck, Jennie Somogyi, and Ashley Bouder.

Jill Kargman
Jill Kargman.

  Olivia Chantecaille
Olivia Chantecaille.

NYCB Principal Dancers Janie Taylor and Sébastien Marcovici
NYCB Principal Dancers Janie Taylor and Sébastien Marcovici.

  Nicola Riske and NYCB Soloist Chase Finlay
Nicola Riske and NYCB Soloist Chase Finlay.

Carolyn Murphy and her daughter Dylan
Carolyn Murphy and her daughter Dylan.

  Elysia Dawn Ramasar and NYCB Principal Dancer Amar Ramasar
Elysia Dawn Ramasar and NYCB Principal Dancer Amar Ramasar.

Grace Coddington
Grace Coddington.

  Robert Sorrell
Robert Sorrell.

Kylie Case, Gilles Mendel, and Bette Franke
Kylie Case, Gilles Mendel, and Bette Franke.

  Lisa Maria Falcone
Lisa Maria Falcone.

The Promenade of the David H. Koch Theater
The Promenade of the David H. Koch Theater.

Photos: Mary Hilliard (all party shots). Paul Kolnik (performance shots)
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