American Ballet Theatre's "Angels & Demons" Fall Gala: A Night of Enchanting Performances and Elegant Fashion

A Celestial Celebration: Where Grace Meets Grandeur

An Evening of Elegance and Artistry: American Ballet Theatre's "Angels & Demons" Gala

The American Ballet Theatre (ABT) inaugurated the Halloween festivities early with its captivating "Angels & Demons" Fall Gala. Hosted at the illustrious Lincoln Center, the event, generously presented by Dior, transformed the David H. Koch Theater's promenade into a mesmerizing gothic ballroom, reminiscent of a scene from "Swan Lake." Majestic chandeliers adorned the towering 50-foot ceiling, casting a magical glow over the proceedings. The gala also served as a tribute to the multifaceted talents of the acclaimed Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning artist, Cynthia Erivo, whose contributions to the arts were recognized.

Fashion and Philanthropy: A Stylish Soiree Under the Stars

During the sophisticated cocktail reception, a distinguished assembly of guests, including prominent designers Michael Kors and Phillip Lim, ventured onto the theater's portico to revel in the unusually balmy October evening. Attendees embraced the "Angels & Demons" theme with creative flair; while some sported playful red devil horns, many exuded celestial grace. Notable fashion figures such as Natalie De'Banco, Elizabeth Sulcer, and Nicky Hilton Rothschild arrived in coordinated white ensembles, evoking the iconic "Charlie's Angels." Tina Leung radiated ethereal beauty in a golden Jason Wu gown, while author Sarah Hoover made a striking contrast in a Carolina Herrera opera cape and Markarian gown, complemented by a Maison Michel halo, alongside Charlotte Groeneveld's sleek black Khaite attire.

Dancers' Daring Attire: Embracing the Thematic Challenge

Many of the ABT dancers, having executed swift costume changes after their red-carpet appearances, interpreted the good-versus-evil dress code with artistic subtlety. PJ Pascual, ABT's esteemed stylist, revealed his choice of black, silver, and gold to embody the theme, dressing talents like Christine Shevchenko, Hee Seo, Scout Forsythe, and Lauren Bonfiglio in Monique Lhuillier sequins. Catherine Hurlin also embraced a touch of sparkle in Akris. Misty Copeland, who had retired from pointe shoes the previous year, made a striking appearance in a black blazer and latex lace pants by Sergio Hudson. Isabella Boylston chose a gleaming column gown by Là Fuori, Fangqi Li donned a mixed-media creation by Yuchang Xiao, and Devon Teuscher wore a neo-Grecian dress by Valentino. Chloe Misseldine delivered theatrical elegance in a custom Vera Wang ensemble, featuring a hand-sculpted bandeau bustier and a mermaid skirt layered in black, charcoal, and sheer tulle. New York City Ballet's Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia also joined the celebration, presenting a chic duo in Dolce & Gabbana.

Autumnal Hues and Artistic Tributes: A Symphony of Style

Beyond the thematic ensembles, a rich palette of autumnal shades also graced the evening. Julia Loomis Lockwood selected a draped ruby-red Gucci gown adorned with a jeweled brooch. Athena Calderone paired a black Colleen Allen column dress with a deep persimmon velvet shawl, while Katie Holmes arrived in a teal Kallmeyer jersey dress. Introduced by the legendary Debbie Allen, Cynthia Erivo took the stage in a dramatic, panniered Erdem design. Reflecting on her arrival in New York a decade prior for "The Color Purple," she spoke of the city's profound dedication to all artistic expressions, reserving special commendation for dance. Erivo praised ABT's storied legacy of narrative through movement, acknowledging its role in enchanting audiences worldwide and spotlighting the extraordinary talent of Misty Copeland and countless other passionate dancers.

A Night of Enchantment: Classical Performances and Surprising Interludes

Following Erivo's moving address, dancers James Whiteside and Thomas Forster, playfully adorned with impish horns and a divine halo respectively, assumed the roles of emcees. Guiding the audience through an evening of fantastical realms and mystical dreams, they punctuated the nine classical selections with humor and ballet anecdotes. Whiteside remarked on the program's inclusion of spirits, fairies, sorcerers, and swan women, to which Forster humorously added, "So, a totally normal night at ABT." The performance commenced with Daniel Camargo in the company premiere of Frederick Ashton's "Dance of the Blessed Spirits," a poignant solo depicting Orpheus's longing for Eurydice. The mood lightened with Catherine Hurlin and Isaac Hernández's portrayal of Titania and Oberon in an excerpt from Ashton's one-act Shakespearean comedy, "The Dream."

Timeless Classics and Daring Revivals: A Diverse Repertoire

The program showcased several beloved pieces from ABT's repertoire, including Shevchenko and Calvin Royal III in Ashton's "Sylvia," portraying the goddess and shepherd. A delightful segment of marzipan, sugarplums, and gingerbread from Alexei Ratmansky's "Whipped Cream" was also featured. The iconic "Swan Lake" pas de deux, with Misseldine's electrifying 32 fouettés as the Black Swan, garnered thunderous applause. Artistic director Susan Jaffe also seized the opportunity to present lesser-seen works, such as "Coppélia," featuring Skylar Brandt as the animated doll, and Michel Fokine's "Le Spectre de la Rose," where Léa Fleytoux embodied a young woman visited by a flower spirit in her dreams, danced by Herman Cornejo. The genre-defining ballet "La Sylphide," dating back to 1832, saw Hee Seo in the title role (Jaffe intends to mount a full production next year).

Angels, Devils, and a Thrilling Finale: The Gala's Grand Conclusion

While Nutcracker angels were absent, the devil made a memorable appearance in the penultimate act. Jaffe revived Agnes de Mille's mischievous "Three Virgins and a Devil" from 1934, a work not performed by ABT in nearly a quarter-century. This comedic ballet followed three young women whose vulnerabilities were exploited by Jake Roxander's slick-dancing, pointy-tailed trickster. The angelic and demonic theme continued into dinner, with tables alternately adorned in ivory linens, white garden roses, and sweet peas, or darker settings featuring black calla lilies and midnight Phalaenopsis orchids. Over a meal of roasted pumpkin soup and chicken pot pie, Jaffe, dressed in a Comme des Garçons blazer, reminisced about dancing the role of the Priggish Virgin, who believed she could tame the devil, during her own tenure with the company—a part originally created by de Mille. She noted how deep her research went when looking for pieces that fit the theme, explaining, "So much of the ballet repertoire is about the supernatural world." The evening culminated in a spectacular surprise: 50 students from the pre-professional Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School materialized to perform Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Energized by the performance, Sloan Lindemann Barnett, a grand chair of the gala, donned Dior and devil horns to lead a paddle raise that secured an additional $700,000, bringing the evening's total fundraising to over $3 million.