Rite of Spring
The New York City Ballet's Annual Gala
There were more than a few wannabe ballerinas in the audience at New York City Ballet's Spring Gala Wednesday night. "I tried to do it as a kid, but I didn't have the balance or flexibility," said 60 Minutes' Lesley Stahl, one of the evening's chairs. "Now I like to watch." Allison Sarofim, on the other hand, probably had the balance thing down—judging by the way she expertly teetered on the four-inch-plus Balenciaga heels she paired with her poufy Giambattista Valli frock.
Speaking of tulle, guests such as Edward Norton, Sean Avery, and Vanessa Williams were treated to a charming behind-the-scenes video of NYCB's costume shop director, Marc Happel. The lifespan of a tutu is 10 to 15 years—who knew? After the performances, which included the debuts of Benjamin Millepied's Quasi una Fantasia and Jiri Bubenicek's Toccata, and a fancy dinner, DJ Samantha Ronson hit the decks. "Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Jackson 5 always work," she said. But it was Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" that really got the crowd moving.
