'Venice' fete was tutu brilliant for words
Thursday, February 12, 2009
By CAROL ANN BENANTI
ADVANCE STAFF WRITER
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. --
Click here to see photos of the event at SILIVE.COM
If you think classic ballet is just about pretty costumes and pliés,
you've never experienced the Staten Island Ballet Company. It's one of
our borough's greatest treasures. What's more, if you haven't had the
pleasure of attending the organization's Annual Snowball Gala, please be
sure to save the date for next year.
"A Night in Venice -- A Hot Time on a Cold Night," staged Saturday
evening at Nicotra's Ballroom at the Hilton Garden Inn, saw the banquet
room at the Bloomfield venue transformed into the intimate Club Rialto,
a divine casino setting replete with tumbling dice, vibrant theatrical
sets -- punctuated by a life-size gondola that floated ever so
gracefully across the dance floor to a bridge -- and a Venetian-style
backdrop suggesting the fabled canals.
Revelers got to boogie-woogie to the strains of the Hi-Tops, a talented
group of musicians led by jazz vocalist Richard Lanham, formerly of the
Drifters, and former Miss Staten Island Ryan Kelly, who wowed the crowd
with her velvet tones. During a Vegas-style revue, nine male and
female dancers from the Staten Island Professional Ballet Company --
Kristine Camane-LaManno, Frank Dellapolla, Jacqui Dean, Laura DiOrio,
Kate Loh, Aaron Nichols, Ursula Verduzco, Andrea Wachholtz and Royce
Zackery, choreographed by Ellen Tharp -- twirled and leaped with utmost
elegance to the rhythmic beats of Italian favorites, all the time decked
out in tasteful, sparkly dance attire. But that wasn't the only dazzling
feature that the evening had to offer.
Kudos to members of the Staten Island Ballet Committee and party
planner/consultant extraordinaire Joanne Megna, who worked tirelessly
along with the masterful Sean Psomas, owner of Wildflowers, New Dorp, to
create table-toppers of towering vases, in which seasonal crystal
branches and hanging votives were delicately placed -- that alternated
with centerpieces of brilliant fresh florals; to Eugene Sorensen, for
his phenomenal set design -- and to Tina Sher and her husband, Ben, who
have been intricately involved with the Staten Island Ballet Board.
Proceeds from the evening's fare, free of chairpersons and speeches,
totaled some $10,000 -- funding to be directed to the Staten Island
Ballet's Children's Scholarship Fund and the Staten Island Ballet's Free
Performance Series.
Casino winners selected from an array of dazzling prizes, including a diamond ring, estate wines, vintage jewelry and fur pieces all donated by the Snowball Committee and local merchants. An original signed painting donated by artist Gregory Perillo and the U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Nick Lia Youth Foundation, titled "Cheyenne Dancers," served as another sensational prize.
Mrs. Tharp, who was thrilled with the evening's attendance and participation, praised the beauty of the Hilton Garden Inn, as well as the warmth and intimacy of the supper club setting.
Those who would like to learn more about the programs offered by the Staten Island Ballet Company may wish to telephone Mrs. Tharp at 718-980-0500.