New York City Ballet Opening Night Benefit is always one of the highlights of the New York social season, but this year marked the Company’s first performance in the newly renovated David H. Koch Theater (formerly New York State Theater), so spirits were as high as the dancers’ jetes. In 2008 Koch pledged $100 million over 10 years to renovate the theater and provide for an operating and maintenance endowment, so now it bears his name­­—for at least 50 years.
The evening featured the World Premiere of NYCB Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins’ Naïve and Sentimental Music, set to a score by John Adams.
Spectacularly garbed attendees included Candace Bushnell with hubby principal dancer Charles Askegard, Sarah Jessica Parker, Natalie Portman, Anne Bass, Arie and Coco Kopelman, Amy Fine Collins, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Nina Griscom and Leonel Piraino, and Valentino. All enjoyed a magical evening of cocktails, performance, and dinner on the Glorious Food repast.
With knockout choreography, exquisite dancing, and a reveling boldface crowd, this always highly-anticipated night was tutu fabulous.