Jan. 26, 2017

Dance With Me Gala Honors Long-Time Supporters Carol and Randy Schilling

Left: Kolby Moffatt, Susan Palmer-Hunter, Jacquie Dorrance, Armity Simon, Penny Gunning, Catherine Jacobson and Anne-Marie Dobbs. Top, right: Students from the School of Ballet Arizona. Bottom, right: Dave Tompkins, Carol and Randy Schilling, Barbara Ottosen, Abby Traister and Kory Leadon

Ballet Arizona hosted its Dance With Me Gala at Phoenix Art Museum on Jan. 20. More than 300 guests attended the lively soiree that combined a dance performance with dinner and dancing to the music of Jo & the Birdman. The event honored long-time supporters Carol and Randy Schilling.

For the occasion, Ib Andersen, Ballet Arizona artistic director, created “The Evolution of a Dancer,” a world premiere ballet. The performance featured students from various levels of The School of Ballet Arizona with choreography created to showcase the skills, passion and dedication students need to become professional ballet dancers, culminating in a Pas de Deux from two of Ballet Arizona’s company members. During the cocktail hour, guests had an up-close view of students’ technique and style as they warmed up at a ballet barre.

The committee, led by Sharron Lewis, chair, and A.J. Dickey, Gwen Hillis and Ricki Dee Jennings, co-chairs, raised more than $450,000 toward the ballet’s education and community outreach programs. This event and others enable Ballet Arizona to expand its Dance for Parkinson’s class to twice weekly and create new programs such as Creative Aging for seniors.

HAUTE EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY