Someone set the bar high by patterning Colorado Ballet’s fundraising gala after the company’s sold-out run of a production described by Denver Post critic Ray Mark Rinaldi as “a colorful acid trip of a ballet … a clever piece of theater.”
The Queen of Hearts Ball, held Feb. 25, was all that — and more.
It began with the 350 guests going “down the rabbit hole” — the staircase leading to the Chambers Grant Salon at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House — and ended with dancing on the main stage.
In between, there was a tribute to Colorado Ballet trustee Joanne Posner-Mayer; congratulations to dancers Maria Mosina and Sharon Wehner, who are in their 20th year with Colorado Ballet; recognition of Gil Boggs, who is celebrating his 10th anniversary as the company’s artistic director; an auction called by former Denver Bronco Reggie Rivers; and dinner by .
Posner-Mayer, who began dancing at age 4, is a physical therapist and philanthropist who turned the PVC fitness balls that she learned to use in Europe into the ubiquitous Fitballs found in clinics, gyms, yoga studios, offices and homes throughout the world. Denver’s , the world’s largest nonprofit incubator, is named for her parents, Jerry and Hanna Posner.
Floral arrangements by BJ Dyer of Bouquets and lighting by Skinny Winkler of SS Productions mimicked the sets for “Alice (in wonderland)” and drew compliments from a crowd that included Gail and Dr. Stuart Kassan; Vicki and attorney Harry Sterling, who was celebrating his 81st birthday; Cynthia and Dr. Larry Chan; Raydean Acevedo; Nancy Hemming and her daughter, Emily; Sandy Elliott; Denise Sanderson and her daughter, Jessie Sanderson Massey; Edie Bell; Jane Netzorg; and auction chair Susan Stiff, who recently joined the Colorado Ballet staff as corporate development officer.
