Winter Ball
2020

On the evening of March 9, SAB held its annual Winter Ball on the Promenade of the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. This glamorous event brings celebrated artists, supporters, School alumni, faculty and staff together for a night of celebration. The evening helps in supporting every aspect of SAB’s ballet training program — providing scholarships for our students while supporting our world-renowned faculty, maintaining our studios, and offering vital student programs beyond the classroom.

With Julianna Margulies serving as Master of Ceremonies, this year’s gala was just as stunning and joyous as ever. A highlight of the evening included a special tribute to the faculty of SAB and the pièce d’occasion was a new work choreographed by SAB alumnus and New York City Ballet dancer, Gilbert Bolden III. The work, specially commissioned for Winter Ball, was set to music by Astor Piazzolla and infused classical ballet technique with touches of tango and other Latin dance styles. Performed by SAB’s C1 and Intermediate Men students, the work was one that Mr. Bolden created whilst balancing a busy rehearsal and performance schedule with NYCB.

“At places call for Symphony in C last season, Jonathan Stafford was walking from his office across the stage to go out to the audience, and I was simply rosining my shoes, getting ready to go on stage, when he asked me if I wanted to choreograph for Winter Ball,” Bolden shares. “For me, choreography always starts with the music, so I have to find something that I really love and won’t get bored with. In working with the students, I wanted to stretch their technical skills in new ways, so the piece has some jazz elements that I think are really fun and will hopefully help them grow as dancers. The entire experience has been really great and I’m so incredibly honored that I was chosen to make this new ballet.”

Immediately following the performance, guests were treated to a scrumptious assortment of desserts and the Afterparty began. The dancing went late into the evening and the entire affair was truly a wonderful celebration of the legacy and future of the School of American Ballet.