Out & About
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The yellow feather in principal dancer Ashley Bouder’s cap suited her role in “Stars and Stripes,” the patriotic closing number of the New York City Ballet’s opening night performance Tuesday. But she looked like she belonged in the Chanel dress she wore to the formal supper afterward.
The 22-year-old dancer from Carlisle, Penn., who came to the School of American Ballet when she was 15, arrived just in time for the main course. “I’m so hungry,” she said, eating her rack of lamb, zucchini, and purée of fennel and celeriac, and leaving the grilled tomato behind.
Sitting next to Ms. Bouder, I asked her about the camaraderie of the company, since many members have danced together since they started at the School of American Ballet.
“There’s a dancer in ‘Stars and Stripes’ I’ve known since I was 5. We did a pas de deux together — I was 8, he was 11,” Ms. Bouder said.
The program for the gala showed the range of styles, moods, music, and skills in the company. The “Middle Duet,” choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky of the Bolshoi Ballet, had a hint of the tango, and received enthusiastic bravos from the audience.
“There’s so much passion in it, it made me depressed to think about my own dating life,” a guest, Chessy Wilson, said.
Stephanie Martin thought she had a hot date in Alfredo Solivan, who coordinated his tie and sneakers. Ms. Martin’s father, Mike Martin, plays the French horn in the City Ballet orchestra and is also the music librarian for the City Opera.
Before dessert arrived — an “ecstatic orange filled with orange ice milk” — the ballet master in chief, Peter Martins, stood to give thanks to the chairmen of the event: Kathryn Moore and David Heleniak, Barbara Cirkva Schumacher, and Patricia and Thomas Shiah. The chief executive of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Samuel DiPiazza, who served as corporate chairman, also spoke, praising the dancers.
Guests included Candace Bushnell, Dana Delaney, Fe Fendi, Jamee Gregory, and Maria Bartiromo, who all helped the ballet raise $1.2 million.
Asked about her next project, actress Anne Hathaway said, “Thanksgiving.”
