“Stars of Dance Gala” a Spectacular Success!
On January 15th, 2023, the guest stars of Boca Ballet Theatre’s “Stars of Dance Gala” dazzled our audience with an unforgettable performance celebrating our 32nd anniversary! Gala guests and dancers alike agree: it was an evening to remember—inspiring and magical!
The gala began with a star-studded show at FAU’s University Theatre. American Ballet Theatre’s Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside shared the breadth of their artistry with an exuberant performance of “Spring Waters” as well as Christopher Wheeldon’s affecting pas de deux “After the Rain.” Catherine Hurlin made a sparkling debut of Le Corsaire with partner Aran Bell, who captivated the crowd with his gravity-defying leaps and turns. Aran also danced the role of Romeo in a pas de deux with returning BBT guest artist Chloe Misseldine, who glowed with grace as Juliet. Dynamic duo Devon Teuscher and Cory Stearns shined in one of the most technically-difficult ballets in George Balanchine’s repertoire: “Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux.” Philadelphia Ballet’s Sterling Baca and Oksana Maslova gave the audience a sneak peek of BBT’s spring production of Giselle, performing a pas de deux that was lighter than air. Lucas Segovia led BBT’s cast of dancers with an electric performance of “Bubblin Over.”
Photo by Susan Kettering
After the performance, VIP guests gathered at The Boca Raton for cocktails and a fine dining experience in the historic Cathedral Room. At the dinner, former New York City Ballet dancer and advocate for the arts Steven Caras was presented with BBT’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award, which celebrates his exceptional service in promoting, preserving, and perpetuating the art of dance in the 21st century.
This exceptional evening would not have been possible without the generous support of our patrons and audience members. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our presenting sponsor Baptist Health as well as the generous patrons who sponsored our Stars of Dance and the Lifetime Achievement Award. Finally, we thank the Stars of Dance themselves for traveling to Florida to share their time and talent with us! They are an absolute inspiration!