American Ballet Theatre celebrates 80 years with "Of Love and Rage" anniversary dinner
Photo courtesy of American Ballet Theatre
Elizabeth Segerstrom and South Coast Plaza were hosts to a private dinner celebrating American Ballet Theater’s new production by Alexei Ratmansky, Of Love and Rage, which debuted at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County.
Thousands of white flowers, Petrosian caviar, and Don Perignon champagne greeted guests on their arrival. Mrs. Segerstrom, dressed in an Oscar de la Renta gown embroidered with flowers, stood between ABT artistic director, Kevin McKenzie, and choreographer Alexei Ratmansky during cocktails. A short speech by the new director of the Segerstrom Center, Casey Reitz, welcome guests followed by Kevin McKenzie.
Photo courtesy of American Ballet Theatre
“This is a beautiful theater and the dancers love being here every year. Alexei is a genius and I feel blessed to be part of his project. We hope he will feel this is his home away from home. This beautiful ballet is a bit risqué and I’ll tell him more about this in Russian later. I’m excited and proud of Judy Morr, Executive Vice President, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, who has helped build a sophisticated audience here for ballet.”
Photo courtesy of American Ballet Theatre
Many New Yorkers journeyed to California for this evening including Joanna Fisher (wife of real estate guru Brian Fisher); Kip Forbes (chairman of the Forbes publishing company); China businesswoman Yue Sai Kan; David Lansky (Pacific Business Group on Health (PBGH); distinguished publicist Jonathan Marder; and the many members of the ABT Company. They were joined by an elegant local contingent including journalist Caroline Graham; Lyn Rothman (founder of The Parkinson's Appeal for DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) and Contributing Editor for Art Review); producer Nigel Lythgoe, Anton and Jennifer Segerstrom to name just a few.
Photo courtesy of American Ballet Theatre
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is the winter home of ABT and Mrs. Segerstrom is the lead underwriter for this new production that will premiere in New York at The Metropolitan Opera on June 2.