The Joffrey Ballet, founded in 1956 by Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, celebrated its 60th anniversary and end of the season at their 14th Annual Spring Gala, Friday April 15.
Miguel Angel Blanco, April Daly
Ashley Wheater, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Gregory Cameron
With 60 in mind, the event was co-chaired by six couples this year: Yvette and Brian Karaba, Jamie-Clare and Nicholas Colvin, Amanda and Jess Merten, Cheryl and Joel Williamson, Anne and Zachary Lazar and Annie and (Dr.) Kris Atzeff.
Nicholas Colvin, Jamie-Clare Colvin
Brian Karaba, Yvette Karaba, Annie Atzeff, Kristopher Atzeff
Amanda Merten, Jess Merten
The spring gala began with multiple performances at the Auditorium theater featuring the world-renowned dancers of the Joffrey Company, led by Artistic Director Ashley Wheater and dancers of the Joffrey Academy of Dance, closing it with Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s “Mammatus,” before guests were shuttled to the Hilton Hotel a few blocks away for cocktails in the grand ballroom and dinner in the Revel decor outfitted International Ballroom. This year, Joffrey subscribers were given the opportunity to attend the performance portion of the evening.
The dinner portion of the night, which had more than 700 guests in attendance, began with the introduction of the Joffrey dancers, as well as brief remarks from co-chair and Joffrey Ballet Board of Directors Chairman Zachary Lazar.
As the night went on, Joffrey Ballet’s community engagement program dancers put on an energetic dance routine that elicited rousing claps and standing O from guests, it was so good (be sure to follow on snapchat for live on the scene updates).
Eloise Atzeff, Annie Atzeff, Emma Graf, Kristopher Atzeff
In between table hopping and finishing the three course dinner that ended with deconstructed desert, it was time to work it off on the dance floor thanks to music and entertainment from The Gentlemen of Leisure.
The Joffrey Ballet, celebrating 60 years of art and innovation, will kick off their 2016-2017 season with “Romeo & Juliet” then the highly and hotly anticipated Christopher Wheeldon choreographed “The Nutcracker” in December. The organization also has an auxiliary board consisting of dynamic young professionals under age 40. Want to learn more or join the board? Click HERE
Daniel Morriss, Jazelle Morriss, John Kamis
Sandra Deromedi, Roger Deromedi, Marci Holzer
Tricia Rooney, Ross Shelleman, Melissa Anton, John
Some of the Who’s Who in attendance included: Jamie-Clare Colvin (Chief of Staff to Ariel Investments President Mellody Hobson), Jason Tyler (Executive VP Global Head of The Institutional Group at Northern Trust, formerly of Ariel), Anne Kaplan (philanthropist, cofounder of Insight Environmental Design), Coco Meers (founder PrettyQuick), Pamella DeVos (President and Designer of PAMELLA ROLAND), Adam DeWitt (Grubhub CFO), Sandra and Roger Deromedi (Pinnacle Foods Chairman, former Kraft CEO) Susan Oleari (National Head of Sales & Practice Management at BMO Private Bank), William F. and Shelley Farley (Singer, Ali Larter’s mother-in-law), Bruce Sagan (Sun-Times Holdings Chairman), Larry Goodman (Rush Medical) and Michelle Goodman to name a few.
Michael Amiet, Emily Strobel Amiet
Lauree Pham, Paul Pham
Patti Eylar, Ashley Wheater, Anne Lazar, Zachary Lazar
Anne Kaplan, Greg Cameron, Maria Pinto
Greg Cameron, Dara Holmes, Dylan Gutierrez, Guest, Greg Thompson
Coco Meers, Ashley Wheater, Laura Silva
Adam DeWitt, Merritt DeWitt
Anne Kaplan, Dia Weil
Bruce Sagan, Fabrice Camels, Bette Cerf Hill
photo credit: Dan Rest; featured image Cheryl Mann
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