PHOTOS: Inside YAGP’s Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala

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PHOTOS: Inside YAGP’s Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala

Todd Cohen and Rebecca Hessel Cohen. Madison McGaw/BFA.com

Every year, the Youth America Grand Prix gala fills the David H. Koch Theater with the kind of diverse guest list that only ballet can connect. This year’s Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala drew more than 300 guests to the Grand Promenade for dinner and dancing under the patronage of an artistic chair Marcella Guarino Hymowitz (wife of billionaire Gregg S. Hymowitz) and co-chaired with a businessman Jordan Blitzfitness promoter Isaac Boots, Natasha Caronna, Colleen Crivello, Courtney Davis, Dotty Giordano, Aly Gradonethe writer Sarah Hoover, Lindsay Kraus, Jennifer Lipschultz, Josephine Lee, Kamie Lightburn, Jeffrey O’Brecht, Samantha Pariente, Amanda Perrin, Grace Brea Pomeranc, Emily Reifel, Priya Shukla, Eliza Stein, Daniela W. Tisch, Barbara Tober, Virginia W. Tomenson, Lesley Thompson Vecsler, Rachel Wexler and a board chair Rain Wallach.

Hosting the evening was Misty Copelandthe former principal of the American Ballet Theater who remains one of the most recognizable names in dance, no Tamar GreeneGeorge Washington’s longest-running Broadway show Hamilton. Before the night ended, Greene brought the room down with a little show tune—“Remember from here on out, history is on your side”—a line that landed with some weight in a room full of young dancers hoping to one day follow in the footsteps of their idols.

Misty Copeland and Tamar Greene. Photo: Luke Kwo of LK STUDIO

The evening honored two women most closely associated with ballet. LoveShackFancy founder and creative director Rebecca Hessel Cohen has gained recognition for her work at the intersection of fashion and dance culture, while a former ABT dancer Melanie Hamrick-who also contributed the first song to the evening program, A rainbowset to a special version of The Rolling Stones’ “Like a Rainbow” by bandmate Mick Jagger—it was honored for its contribution to the art form.

For the third year in a row, guests had the opportunity to bid on custom-designed pointe shoes as part of The Pointe Project, with all proceeds supporting young dancers pursuing professional careers. Contributing designers this year include A-Morir, Alice + Olivia, All III, Ally Boggard and Mara Hoffman, Amir Taghi, Carolina Herrera, Hervé Léger by Michelle Ochs, Hope Gangloff, JK5, Lapointe, Libby Klein Art, LoveShackFancy, Michael Kors, Monse and Renna Jewel.

The guest list was a testament to YAGP’s influence. The world of dance proved powerful: former principals of ABT Stella Abrera, Maxim Beloserkovsky again Irina Dvorovenko composed of ballet stars Ashley Boulder, Nieve Corrigan, Harrison’s football, Skylar Brandt (who accompanied her boyfriend Vladimir Rumyantsev), Katya Tolstova again Christian Zimmerman. Chelsea Clinton-a reliable presence in some of the most important cultural circles of New York-was also there, bringing together a group that includes Hollywood, fashion and philanthropy, including an Oscar winner. F. Murray Abrahamthe players Brooke Adams, Tony Shalhoub, Chris Nothi, Holt McCallany and a rising star Demi Singleton, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills structure Sutton StrackeCandy crush Mara Hoffmanbusiness woman Dylan Laurena philanthropist Maria Cristina AnzolaMillion Dollar Listing’s Luiza again Steve Goldphilanthropists Barbara again Gary Brandtthe promoter Shannon Zhao and entrepreneurs Brynn Putnam.

Polina Semionova performs a pas deux from Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon with partner Martin ten Kortenaar. Photo: Luke Kwo of LK STUDIO

The main event, of course, was the performance, presented by YAGP’s Founder and Artistic Director Larissa Saveliev in a packed house. Guests cheered as ballerinas appeared on the balconies surrounding the Promenade before the show began in earnest. Nicoletta Manni again Timofey Adriashenko La Scala Ballet made its New York debut in Mauro Bigonzetti’s play. Caravaggio (New York premiere) and a classic showstopper The Grand Pas Classique. Polina Semionova from the Berlin State Ballet made a much-anticipated return to the YAGP stage, performing Sir Kenneth Macmillan’s pas de deux. Manon and my colleagues Martin ten Kortenaarand the Berlin State Ballet, as well as a set work The Dying Duck aside Braylon Browner of So You Think You Can Dance. Christine Shevchenko again Calvin Royal III of ABT, Reece Clarke of the Royal Ballet and Roman Mejia of the New York City Ballet left the stage This Corsairand Shevchenko and Royal closed with Hamrick’s A rainbow. As is tradition, 120 YAGP finalists from this year’s international competition entered the arena to receive a Pièce d’Occasion to end the evening—a good reminder of exactly what an existing organization is supposed to do.