MAD HOT BALLET Raises Over $1.3 Million

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Executive Director Barry Hughson today announced that MAD HOT BALLET: DISCO raised over $1.3 million. The annual fundraising gala took place last night in Toronto at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

MAD HOT BALLET:DISCO was presented by CIBC, continuing their 12-year support of The National Ballet of Canada.

"The National Ballet of Canada has made outstanding contributions to our country's vibrant artistic and cultural life," said Jay Smith of CIBC. "We are delighted to help enrich that further through our continued sponsorship of the MAD HOT BALLET Gala to help advance the ballet community and showcase the talent of its dancers."

The evening began with an hour-long performance including the world premiere of Joshua Beamish's Lollapalooza, performed by Principal Dancers Harrison James and Jillian Vanstone, with costumes by Canadian fashion designer Jason Wu and Justin Peck's Paz de la Jolla, which will be performed as part of the National Ballet's Summer Mixed Programme June 16 - 22 with James Kudelka's The Man in Black and Alexander Ekman's Cacti.

Following the performance, 1,800 attendees enjoyed a cocktail reception in the Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room with signature cocktails and special guests from the 70s. The 650 gala dinner guests took their places onstage for a gourmet meal prepared by Mark McEwan's North 44 Caters and concluded the evening with a night of dancing onstage at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts with Artists of the Ballet.

Featured during the evening was the MAD HOT BALLET lottery draw that included prizes from Royal de Versailles, Hermitage Bay and Air Canada, Jays Care Foundation and TD Bank.

This year's gala co-chairs were Jen Lee Koss and Nicholas Mellamphy.

Next year's MAD HOT BALLET will take place on June 12, 2019.

Photo: Principal Dancers of the National Ballet at the MAD HOT BALLET: DISCO Gala. Photo by George Pimentel Photography.