Miami City Ballet’s 31st Anniversary Gala at Faena Forum

Photography by Alejandro Chavarria on January 28th, 2017 in Galas, Lifestyle

Miami, FL – January 28, 2017 – Miami City Ballet celebrated its 31st annual gala, the first charity gala hosted at Miami Beach’s cultural cornerstone Faena Forum. The event raised more than $1 million to support Miami City Ballet’s work both onstage and in the community. The theme of this year’s ball—an ice-kissed fairytale—was inspired by the world premiere commission of Alexei Ratmansky’s The Fairy’s Kiss, debuting on February 10th at Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center. Guests experienced an evening with dinner, dancing and artistic prowess that began with a cocktail reception showcasing a life-sized glacier and a Miami City Ballet ballerina greeting more than 400 attendees. Notable Miami, Palm Beach and New York philanthropists, together with community leaders and ballet aficionados, sipped Bacardi cocktails from frozen shot glasses while child prodigy pianist Brandon Goldberg played jazz tunes. The dramatic ballroom was furnished with an ice bar and centerpieces featuring pointe shoes frozen into them. Miami City Ballet dancers dined at each guest table then hit the dance floor for an unforgettable party that included a surprise flash mob as snow fell from the balconies of the Forum.

The fantastical fundraiser, followed by a Remy Martin sponsored after-party at the Faena penthouse, was the perfect setting to announce the Miami City Ballet’s new take on the classic Nutcracker performance, premiering next year with a Miami-inspired twist, featuring costume and set design by artistic power couple Ruben and Isabel Toldeo. The gala was co-chaired by Alexa and Adam Wolman, Meghana Rajadhyaksha and Dr. Amar Rajadhyaksha, Tina and Dan Carlo, Susan Kronick and Edward Shumsky, Nancy and Jon Batchelor, Margaret and Mike Eidson, Christy and David Martin, with notable guests including Alan Faena and Ximena Caminos. Specially designed gift bags were presented courtesy of sponsors Neiman Marcus Coral Gables and Aqua di Parma at Brickell City Centre.

Alan Faena, Ximena Caminos, Lourdes Lopez, & George Skouras

Alan Faena & Ximena Caminos

Eva Silverstein, Alan Faena, & Ximena Caminos

Toby Lerner Ansin & Sanford Evans

Michael Scolamiero & Swanee DiMare

Tina Carlo & Swanee DiMare

Tina Carlo, Susan D Kronick, Michael Scolamiero, & Lourdes Lopez

David Martin & Mike Eidson

Christy & David Martin

Meghana & Amar Rajadhyaksha

Olivia Flatto, Kinga Lampert, & Tina Carlo

Michelle Herbert Eva Silverstein

Alexa Wolman

Alexa Wolman, Soledad Lowe, Suzy Buckley Woodward, Timothy Walker, & Lesli Brown

Alexa Wolman & Swanee DiMare

Hilary Tisch, Suzy Buckley Woodward, & Martin Rosenblum

Stephen Brunelle, Katharine Rubino, & Criselda Breene

Morten Aagaard & Stephanie Sayfie Aagaard

Christy Martin & Rene Gonzalez

Adam Wolman, Lesli Brown, Ella Titus, Suzy Buckley Woodward, Alexa Wolman, Maria Beguiristain, Rene Gonzalez, Criselda Breene, Tara Solomon, & Timothy Walker