The School of American Ballet held its 2013 Winter Ball: A Night in the Far East at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater last evening. This glamourous annual dinner dance, was sponsored for the sixth consecutive year, by the legendary French Maison Van Cleef & Arpels. In keeping with the theme, the decor evoked the colors and ornaments of the Baron Alexis de Redé’s 1969 Le Bal Oriental, held at the Hotel Lambert in Paris. The promenade was transformed with splendid décor, and Van Cleef & Arfpels evoked the ambiance of the Far East with a vivid tableaux vivant featuring extraordinary pieces from their collection.

Tableaux vivant  featuring pieces from Van Cleef & Arpels’ collection (Click image for larger view)

There was music and a singular performance by the advanced students of The School of American Ballet choreographed by Silas Farley, who was selected by Peter Martins, Artistic Chairman of the School of American Ballet. And unsurpsingly, many of the 500 guests (including the School’s board members and alumni as well as leaders from the New York corporate and social sector), considered the theme of the evening, in their sartorial choices.

Julia Koch, Julia Paulson, Silas Farley, Laura Zeckendorf, Nicolas Luchsinger, Diana De Menna, Marjorie Van Dercook (Click image for larger view)

The event was headed by Honorary Chairs Coco Kopelman, Elizabeth R. Miller, Liz Peek, and Betsy Pitts; Event Chairs Diana DiMenna, Julia Koch, Jenny Paulson, and Laura Zeckendorf; and Young Patron Chairs Amanda Brotman, Brie Bythewood, Ann-Marie MacFarlane, and William Yang. The Corporate Chair was Nicolas Luchsinger.

Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lisa Rinehart

Other notables who attended: Jock Soto, Darci Kistler, Ashley Bouder, Jared Angle, Rebecca Krohn, Kay Mazzo, Mikhail Baryshnikov & Lisa Rinehart, Kyle Blackmon, Darci Kistler, Ashley Bouder, Rebecca Krohn, Fe Fendi, John Galantic, Carolina Herrera, David Koch, Arie L. Kopelman, Alexandra Lebenthal, John Paulson, Al Roker & Deborah Roberts, Kelly Rutherford, Will Zeckendorf, Amy Fine Collins, and Jean Shafiroff. Proceeds from the Winter Ball are used to award scholarships, maintain world-class studios and residence halls, and offer vital student programs beyond the ballet studio.

Julia and David Koch

The Encore is the Winter Ball after-party. Following dinner, 200 of the city’s most sophisticated philanthropic young professionals joined the Winter Ball for dancing and dessert. Dinner tickets include admission to The Encore and after-party-only tickets were also available.

-Marilyn Kirschner

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