School of American Ballet's Workshop Benefit Raises Over $820,000

The School of American Ballet's Workshop Performance Benefit 2013 at SAB on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 honored Peter Martins' and Kay Mazzo's 30th Anniversary with the School and raised more than $820,000 for scholarships and school programs. The evening began with cocktails at 5:30pm, followed by the presentation of Mae L. Wien Awards for Outstanding Service to MR. Martins and Ms. Mazzo respectively by Kate D. Levin, commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and Sterling Hyltin, New York City Ballet Principal Dancer.

"We are thrilled to announce that the Workshop Benefit Performance raised more than our original goal. The much-appreciated support of our attendees, donors and sponsors combined with gorgeous performances by our own dancers made for a terrific celebration," said Margie Van Dercook, executive director of The School of American Ballet. "The presentation of awards to MR. Martins and Ms. Mazzo by Commissioner Levin and Ms. Hyltin were a special highlight of the evening."

The night continued with the performance, attended by more than 700 guests, followed by dinner and dancing at 9pm. The dinner was attended by 500 patrons, including the School's board members and alumni as well as leaders from the New York corporate and social communities. Notable attendees during the evening included: Peter Martins & Darci Kistler, Kay Mazzo & Albert Bellas, Jared Angle, Ashley Bouder, Albert Evans, Sterling Hyltin,Maria Kowroski & Martin Harvey, Sébastien Marcovici, Sara Mearns, Philip Neal, Kyra Nichols, Susan Pilarre & Chip Zien, Brittany Pollack & Jonathan Stafford, Suki Schorer, Jennie Somogyi, Jock Soto & Luis Fuentes, Janie Taylor, Chelsea Clinton, Kristin & John Clark, Olivia Flatto, Julia Koch, Coco & Arie Kopelman, Will Kopelman, Rose Kuo, Seren Lese, Charlene & Tom Marsh, Liz Peek, Joseph W. Polisi, Jean Shafiroff, Karin von Aroldingen, and Laura & Will Zeckendorf.

Peter Martins and Kay Mazzo, both former New York City Ballet principal dancers under George Balanchine, have been members of the School of American Ballet faculty for the past 30 years. MR. Martins was named Balanchine's successor as Chairman of Faculty in 1983, and Ms. Mazzo became Co-chairman in 1997 after her earlier appointment to the faculty by Mr. Balanchine in 1982. Together they have maintained SAB's position as the leading U.S. academy of its kind-upholding the standard of excellence established by SAB's founders while expanding programs and resources to carry the School's mission into the twenty-first century.

The Workshop Performance Benefit is The School of American Ballet's most anticipated event of the year. The annual Workshop Performances are SAB's only public performances and a rare opportunity to get a sneak preview of the ballet world's up and coming young stars. A Benefit Dinner follows the performance at Lincoln Center, and attracts more than 550 arts patrons, corporate VIPs and New York's social elite for a seated dinner and dancing in the SAB studios, which were transformed into elegant dining rooms for the evening.

The event was headed by Chairmen Liz and Bill Armstrong, Stuart H. Coleman and Meryl Rosofsky, and Sasha Galantic; Corporate Chairman Rosemary T. Berkery, UBS Financial Services; and Young Patron Chairmen Brynn Jinnett and Chelsea Zalopany-both are SAB alumna.

The all-Balanchine performance included Divertimento No. 15, Le Tombeau de Couperinand Walpurgisnacht Ballet. As in years past, the performance once again provided audiences with a unique opportunity to witness the pre-professional debuts of the nation's most talented ballet students as they prepare to embark on professional ballet careers with notable companies around the U.S. and abroad.

The School of American Ballet, the official training academy of the New York City Ballet, was established in 1934 by legendary choreographer George Balanchine and philanthropist Lincoln Kirstein as the first and most essential step in their quest to create an American classical ballet company.

SAB, located at New York City's Lincoln Center, is the premier ballet academy in the United States, training more students who go on to become professional dancers than any other school. SAB's former students fill the ranks of the New York City Ballet and other leading U.S. and international ballet companies.