Fundraiser for American Ballet Theatre

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending an important fundraiser for the American Ballet Theatre right here in Chicago at the Ivy Room.

Due to the unseasonably warm weather, attendees enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres outside in the summer-like air before we headed inside for an elegant dinner.

At the event, I had the honor of meeting ABT’s Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie and Executive Director Rachel Moore, as well as several principal dancers from the company, including Natalia Osipova, who will be dancing the lead role in the company’s performance of Giselle, playing at the Auditorium Theatre tonight through Sunday.

Many prominent members of Chicago’s arts community were also in attendance, including Julie Nakagawa, artistic director of Danceworks Chicago; members of Auditorium Theatre’s board of directors; and representatives from Carol Fox & Associates, a arts-related public relations firm.

The American Ballet Theatre is one of the premiere ballet companies in the United States, and although they are based in New York, recently, the company has begun traveling to other cities including Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles to bring high-caliber dance to more Americans.

For the last several years, The American Ballet Theatre has been performing at the Lyric Opera when they visit Chicago, but this year, for the first time, the company is moving its performances to the Auditorium Theatre.

At the fundraiser, Brett Batterson, Artistic Director of the Auditorium Theater, spoke about how thrilled he was to bring such a preeminent ballet company to the people of Chicago.

I, too, am pleased that Chicagoans will have the chance to experience the beauty and rich tradition of this superior dance company, and hope you will join me in seeing Giselle this weekend!