Society / Featured Parties

A Haunting $1 Million Houston Night: This Enchanting Ball Goes to the Graveyard

BY // 03.03.17
photography Priscilla Dickson, Wilson Parish

Was this a Halloween redux, a Mardi Gras masquerade or did we get the date wrong? The welcome to the Houston Ballet Ball was anything but the norm with frightful ghostly costumed dancers from the company’s production of Cinderella manning the Wortham Theater Center elevators and Grand Foyer entries.

A disconnect? Au contraire. It was, in fact, an incredibly clever means of reminding the black-tie crowd that the stunning ballet would be premiering in just a few days.

As a nod to the Cinderella production, the “Enchantment” theme of the ball was played out not only in the Camelot-esque castle decor by The Events Company but also by Houston Ballet Academy students dressed as those spirits from the graveyard scene of Stanton Welch AM‘s choreographed story.

And, of course, the purpose of the ball was to support the ballet — as well as have a sterling good time. That last bit was guaranteed by patron Diane Lokey Farb, who for the second year underwrote the appearance of the wildly popular Atlanta-based band Party on the Moon.

The fundraising aspect was covered by generous ball chairs Anne and Albert Chao and honoree, long-time Houston Ballet patron Ann Trammell.

Contributing to the ball proceeds of more than $1.1 million (applause, applause) was the Tenenbaum Jewelers duo, Tony Bradfield and Kevin Black, who provided a king’s ransom (retailing at more than $700,000) in beautiful jewels for the silent auction.

City Kitchen did its job of serving dinner fit for a royal entourage beginning with the dreamy white asparagus velouté with poached lobster and black truffle and moving on to a rack of lamb entree.

And the well-heeled gathering of 400 filled their glamour roles to the hilt, particularly the femmes in fabulous ball gowns.

Seen: Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Jim Nelson, Allison and Troy Thacker, Lynda Underwood, Marguerite Swartz, Shawn Stephens and Jim Jordan, Ann and Karl Stern, Pat Breen, Chinhui and Eddie Allen, Kristy and Chris Bradshaw, Prince and Princess Piotr and Maria-Anna Galitzine, Jerry Ann Woodfin-Costa and Victor Costa, Molly and Jim Crownover, Jay Jones and Terry Wayne Jones, Valerie and Tracy Dieterich, Courtney and Bill Toomey, Hallie Vanderhider, Fady Armanious and Bill Baldwin.

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