MAGICAL COMBINATION OF ART + DANCE

MAGICAL COMBINATION OF ART + DANCE

by | Jun 21, 2023 | Parties, Blog, San Antonio

San Antonio’s McNay Museum Luncheon Has Misty Copeland As Guest Speaker

By Lance Avery Morgan    Photography by David Sixt Photography

Houston Frost, Rachel Drake, Lou Celia Frost, Misty Copeland, Don Frost, CeCe Griffin and James Griffin

Carla Brozovich and Misty Copeland

THE SETTING: It was the perfect day for the McNay Art Museum to host a luncheon that featured Misty Copeland, a world-renowned ballerina with the American Ballet Theatre, one of the three leading classical ballet companies in the United States, as the keynote speaker. In addition to her dance career, Copeland has become a public speaker, celebrity spokesperson and stage performer. She has written two autobiographical books and narrated a documentary about her career challenges, A Ballerina’s Tale.

Deborah Roberts and Misty Copeland

THE STYLE: A budding art collector of African American Art, Copeland has works in her collection by Ndidi Emefiele, Nathaniel Mary Quinn, Lorna Simpson, and Deborah Roberts, who is also in the McNay’s collection. Copeland is an avid philanthropist and an ambassador for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, of which she is also an alum. In 2022, she launched The Misty Copeland Foundation, with its first signature program BE BOLD, which aims to bring greater diversity, equity, and inclusion to dance, especially ballet. This year’s luncheon chair was Cece Frost Griffin, and the committee was Carla Brozovich, Amelita Mauze, Sarah Moore, Emilie Petty, and Corinna Richter.

Lou Celia Frost, Lila Malone, Bonnie Chumbley, CeCe Frost Friffin and Jeanne Alfaro

Sarah Moore, Catharine Vexler, Dr. Sara McCamish and Hannah Hudson Beard

THE PURPOSE: The McNay extends special thanks to The Bennett Prize, the Luncheon Title Sponsor, and acknowledges the significant funding from the Louis A. and Frances B. Wagner Endowment for Misty Copeland’s participation. Generous underwriting support is provided by the John R. and Greli N. Charitable Trust, and Frost Bank, Trustee. The McNay Art Museum engages a diverse community in the discovery and enjoyment of the visual arts. It is San Antonio’s place of belonging, where the Museum’s expanding community is reflected in transformational art experiences.

Misty Copeland with the Boys and Girls Club of San Antonio guests

Matthew McLendon, Don Frost, CeCe Frost Griffin,Darryl Byrd and Misty Copeland

Luncheon guests

Sarah Moore, Emilie Petty CeCe Frost Griffin, Misty Copeland, Amelita Mauze, Carla Brozovich and Corinna Richter

ONE GIANT LEAP

ONE GIANT LEAP

by | May 30, 2020 | Summer 2020, Parties, San Antonio

Supporters Of Ballet San Antonio Raise Funds At Luncheon

 

By Jake Gaines Photography by Rance Ristau

 

THE SETTING:  On a recent afternoon, Ballet San Antonio hosted a fundraising luncheon at the Carlos Alvarez Theater at The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. Announced was a new partnership with Haven For Hope, a nonprofit that provides free dance classes for the children of Haven residents. Energetic and longtime supporters of Ballet San Antonio, as well as newcomers to the organization filled the room. The Ballet welcomed Daniel Jones, editor of the Modern Love column for the New York Times as the featured guest. Other speakers included Carla Brozovich, a longtime supporter of the Ballet, Sonya Medina Williams, a new supporter of the ballet and long supporter of Haven For Hope, Ballet San Antonio C.E.O. Evin Eubanks, and Karen Lee Zachry.

 

THE SCENE:  Haven For Hope has a current population of 120 individuals and families, which includes 300 children experiencing homelessness who will be eligible for the Learning That Moves You program beginning in September. The classes will take place on the Haven For Hope campus. Through the establishment of this new program at Haven for Hope, children staying at the center will have access to free lessons in creative movement in a safe space. There they will be able to express themselves and, in doing so, cope and heal from the trauma of homelessness. 

 

THE PURPOSE:  Ballet San Antonio C.E.O Evin Eubanks said the idea for the program originated with Carla Brozovich and Sonya Medina Williams, both enthusiastic supporters of the dance company and co-chairs of the winter luncheon. NuStar Energy and The Greehey Family Foundation have generously underwritten the Haven For Hope program. Ballet San Antonio is the only, and premiere, professional ballet company in San Antonio and resides at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.

 

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