Kansas City Ballet Guild Announces Ballet Bash, 2016 Pirouette Award Winner

The Kansas City Ballet Guild has announced Lisa Merrill Hickok as the honored recipient of the 2016 Pirouette Award.

This award will be presented to Hickok on Thursday, Oct. 13th, as a part of the annual fundraising gala to benefit the Kansas City Ballet Company and School, in addition to Community and Educational Programs.

In keeping with the theme of Kansas City Ballet's season-opening production A Midsummer Night's Dream, based on William Shakespeare's classic comedy of mischief and mystery between mortals and fairies, this year the Ballet Guild has unveiled The Ballet Bash: A Mid Autumn Night's Feast. The 2016 event will be two-fold. The main event will be an unconventional and exuberant progressive cocktail party held on Saturday evening, Oct. 1st, at the magnificent Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity. Part two takes place on Thursday evening, Oct. 13th on the stage of the Muriel Kauffman Theatre at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

The Oct. 1st creative cocktail event will feature amazing food and drink from an array of chefs and vendors including Portable Chef, PB&J, Moxie Catering, Webster House, Nothing Bundt Cake, Parisi Artisan Coffee, and S.D. Strong who will oversee vodka tasting stations. With five bars located throughout the building, a photo booth by Bluestone Photography, a variety of musical choices offered with dancing throughout the building and the main stage set for the KC All Stars there will be fun and frivolity around every corner of the Bolender Center. Additionally, benefactors will also enjoy a private studio with upscale food by Lon Lane Inspired Occasions, a private bar, and music by Herman Mehari. For inspiration with the creative cocktail attire, a Pinterest page has been put together here: www.pinterest.com/kcballet/ballet-bash-2016.

The Benefactors' dinner takes place Thursday evening, October 13th at the renowned Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts for those benefactors who've given $1,250 or more. The Shakespearean-themed evening will include cocktails on the intimate Level 7 Terrace, overlooking Brandmeyer Hall and the Kansas City skyline. Following that, an elegant dinner catered by Lon Lane's Inspired Occasions will be served on the Muriel Kauffman Theatre Stage, amidst the beautiful sets and characters used in Kansas City Ballet's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Creative black tie in the spirit of Shakespeare's "A Mid Summer Night's Dream" is encouraged.

Tickets and additional information are available at www.kcballetbash.org.

Founded in 1957, Kansas City Ballet is a 29-member professional ballet company under the leadership of Artistic Director, Devon Carney, and Executive Director, Jeffrey J. Bentley. The company's mission is to establish Kansas City Ballet as an indispensable asset in the community through exceptional performances, excellence in dance training, and quality community educational programs for all ages.

Kansas City Ballet is home to the Kansas City Ballet School with an enrollment of 1800+ children and adults offering professional training for the career minded student, as well as for those simply seeking a healthy lifestyle.

Through our professional company, our Second Company (KCB II), and our many community educational and outreach programs, such as Reach Out and Dance (ROAD), we seek to nurture and develop our artists, audiences, and students in the values inherent in the creativity, diversity, and joy of dance.

The Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity, home to the Company and the School, in conjunction with Resident Company status at the premier Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, has positioned Kansas City as a "destination for dance".