With a newly installed general manager and artistic director, George Steel, and a revitalized home at the David H. Koch Theater, the New York City Opera wanted to add something fresh to its spring gala and entice more patrons. But rather than change things up with decor, the nonprofit instead put the focus on its orchestra by introducing a dance component. Immediately following Thursday night's opening performance of L'Etoile, 410 guests headed to the promenade for dinner and waltzes led by the opera's full accompaniment of musicians.
"The idea came from George Steel, who worked with me to help design an evening we thought would be great fun for the guests," said Sabrina Martin, the opera's development and special event director. "He was looking for ways to specifically feature the New York City Opera's orchestra, which is always in the pit, but not always in the forefront of our performances. We also know that a large group of our donor base are avid waltzers and they're very active in the New York City waltzing circuit. So rather than them attending opera balls elsewhere, we thought they could do that here at the theater."
To drum up excitement for the gala and prepare guests for a night of serious waltzing, the opera arranged classes with Sid Grant, a dance instructor and director of Ballroom Basics. On Sunday and Monday nights in February, patrons learned the Viennese waltz and other dance steps in one of the theater's rehearsal rooms. The invitations even provided a diagram of basic moves as well as space to write in dance partners, a concept that carried over into the dinner program and insert. At the ball, a performance by competitive dancers Gemma Arnold and Kamil Nieroda opened the floor.
The waltz focus proved successful for the opera, which raised $1 million to support its programming and educational activities. "Our idea going forward for each City Opera event is to reach out to a new community of people, and whether it's a focus of the production that evening or the party itself, we're continually trying to grow our audience through our major events. This event was specifically a way for us to reach into the dance community," Martin said.