Society Noir: Flashes: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Opening Night Gala

Gala Co-Chairs

Carmen de Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder

Artistic Director/Co-chair, Judith Jamison and Associate Artistic Director Masazumi Chaya

Co-chairs: Sandy and Joan Weill, Kathryn and Kenneth Chenault

Tamara Tunie

Janice and Christopher Williams

Bruce Gordon, Twana Tibbs and Rev. Jesse Jackson

Harold Ford and fiancee

Russell Simmons, Porschia Coleman and Rev. Jesse Jackson

World renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater kicked off their season with an Opening Night Gala in New York. The benefit raised more than $2.7 million for all Ailey’s essential programs with support from over 1300 patrons. The Gala performance featured the company premiere of Firebird, choreographed by Maurice Béjart, Reflections in D, a solo Mr. Ailey created for himself in 1962, and the globally acclaimed, Revelations.

A heart-felt tribute by Artistic Director Judith Jamison and Gala Co-chairs Joan and Sandy Weill was paid to Maurice Béjart, who passed away one week before the Gala as "an innovator, humanist and a citizen of culture and the world." The AAADT received outstanding reviews for their opening night performances from The New York Times who stated Clifton Brown was "Perfect for the role" in Firebird, as well as, "Matthew Rushing's lyrical control proves riveting, beautifully attuned to Eric Scott Reed's live performance at the piano."

Dancers and patrons alike, looked glamorous as they united for dinner and dancing at the New York Sheraton Metropolitan Ballroom later that evening. Designers, Badgley Mischka bedecked the the female luminaries of AAADT in their Platinum Collection. In a nutshell, the night was a beautiful success.