The American Ballet Theatre, alongside New York stars and avid ballet fans, returned to Lincoln Center on Thursday for a glitzy night out to celebrate the highly-anticipated comeback.
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Crowds showed up to the David H. Koch Theater in their best sparkle and suits for the ABT Fall Gala, where champagne was had and spectacular ballet was danced. HELLO! attended the gala, and guests in the audience included Katie Couric and husband John Mulner, Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski alongisde his partner Kevin Harrington, and former The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Sutton Stracke.
The night celebrated not only the premiere of Christopher Rudd's Lifted, but also ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie's incredible 30 year tenure as he retires from the position. ABT Trustee Patricia R. Morton was also honored with the Melville Straus Leadership Achievement Award.
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Before the world premiere of Lifted, dancers left crowds in awe as they performed Jiří Kylián’s high-spirited Sinfonietta – which was last performed by ABT in 2014 – and the orchestra was led by Guest Conductor Roderick Cox in his ABT debut.
The ballet dates back to the 1970s, and ahead of the performance, it was noted how while it was once considered very innovative and modern for ballet in a review by The New York Times, it is now a classic.
The same future is hoped from Christopher's Lifted, which featured an all-Black cast, in an effort to bolster the Black community in ballet and beyond. It is the very first all-Black production at ABT.
© Photo: Getty ImagesGuests were their most glamorous selves, pictured is Jean Shafiroff
The creator behind the ballet was just eleven-years old when he became the first Black child to ever dance the role of The Nutcracker in George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, under the Miami City Ballet, as per Cori Murray.
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The award-winning dancer performed three seasons with The Metropolitan Opera, and he is a 2019 Guggenheim Choreography Fellow.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe performance was followed by dinner and dancing
It was quite the electrifying performance, and its five dancers, Calvin Royal III, Erica Lall, Courteney Lavine, Melvin Lawovi and José Sebastián were accompanied by two mirrored walls and fog effects to amplify their incredible effort to "push ballet's boundaries."
The costumes, which consisted of a neutral palette, were designed by New York based fashion designer Carly Cushnie, formerly of luxury label Cushnie et Ochs.
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