Houston Ballet Hosts Virtual Home Edition Ball
By Jennifer Roosth Photography by Michelle Watson and Wilson Parish
THE SETTING: The 2021 Houston Ballet Ball’s Home Edition: Having a Ball event was held as a virtual soirée for the nearly 250 guests to “have a ball” at home. Prior to the organization’s virtual program, each guest received dinner, drinks, and a holographic, retro-inspired gift bag, which included disco ball cups, a tie-dye kit, sequin face masks, and more to get them in the themed spirit of things.
THE STYLE: The program kicked off with a Saturday Night Fever-inspired mashup by Houston Ballet Company Dancers outside the Wortham Theater Center. The Events Company brought the retro theme to life for the top underwriters, some of whom hosted “Ballet Ball Watch Parties,” featuring disco balls and neon color table decorations. During the program, guests enjoyed an exclusive viewing of In Good Company’s premiere, an original work by Stanton Welch filmed during the pandemic. The disco fever carried until the closing with a special surprise appearance featuring the organization’s Executive Director Jim Nelson and Artistic Director Stanton Welch.
THE PURPOSE: Throughout Houston Ballet’s 2020-21 Season, the organization completed a $5 million campaign to help offset lost revenue due to the pandemic. Proceeds from this year’s Ballet Ball were directed towards supporting the ongoing crisis relief efforts and raised nearly $850,000 to support the Ballet’s dancers, staff, musicians, and academy faculty.
