Out & About
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Gala suppers after performances can be tests in endurance. On opening night of the Metropolitan Opera, patrons sat down to their meals at midnight.
The Brooklyn Academy of Music faced the challenge admirably at its Next Wave gala on Tuesday. Working around a three-hour performance of “Nefés” by Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, the international performing arts center planned suppers before and afterward, raising $700,000.
The later supper, which started at 10:30 p.m., was the more glamorous one, drawing Mikhail Baryshnikov, Jessica Lange, and their daughter, Alexandra Baryshnikov (who swore her life is not glamorous: She is a stay-at-home mom in Providence, R.I.).
The gala chairman, clothing designer Narciso Rodriguez, sat with artist Cindy Sherman and actresses — and, perhaps lesserknown dancers — Claire Danes and Ariel Flavin. In January, Ms. Danes and Ms. Flavin will be performing a dance piece by Ms. Flavin’s mother, Tamar Ragoff, at P.S. 122. “Edith & Jenny,” which takes its name from the characters the women played in their film debuts in 1988, explores their friendship in movement.
Taking a cue from Ms. Bausch’s work, the meal and décor at both meals had an Istanbul flavor. The entrée was braised short ribs with chickpea stew. Dessert was a yogurt saffron cream cake with honey and pistachio sauce.
Most of the 400 guests at the late supper seemed delighted with the food and the company: Staff had to push and prod them to leave. (The announcement that the last bus to Manhattan was about to depart had little effect.)
And that is BAM’s story: Its supporters are passionate about the institution, and so are its staff members. After all, some of them, such as the director of development, Lynn Stirrup, were present at both dinners.
