Toby Lerner Ansin brought a tale of triumph to the Broward Friends of the Miami City Ballet on Thursday.
At a membership coffee at Jim and Janet Jordan’s Fort Lauderdale home, she told about the company’s incredible reception at the Lyon, France, dance festival last month.
“After the performance, the audience wouldn’t let the dancers off the stage,” she said. “First they did regular clapping. Then the European rhythmic clapping. Then more regular clapping. They wouldn’t stop. Edward Villella had to go on stage and then it was pandemonium. It went for 15 or 20 minutes!”
About 75 Friends came to hear Ansin’s report, including Mimi Bauer, who founded the Broward Friends, and steering committee members Nancy Blosser, Diane Courtney, Antje Farber and Judy Kass. Also there were members Kari Bondurant, Donna Casto, Carol Frei, Nell Lewis, Helen Isley and Eileen Mayle, and several of the ballet bunch from Miami, including Ansin, Roz Richter, Cyn Porta and Linda Villella. Plus lots of new members, such as Susan Manwaring, Charlotte Miniea, Alyson Kass, Diane Kohlmeyer, Martha Miller, Judy Calufetti, Lori Mahowalt, Mary Fanizzi and Kathie Jackson.
The company is gearing up for its million-dollar production of The Nutcracker on Dec. 8. Meanwhile, there are several other social events on the schedule, including a fancy do at the Sheraton Hotel on Nov. 30. And, young balletomanes will be enchanted by The Sugar Plum Fairy’s Land of the Sweets luncheon at Miami’s Omni International Hotel on Nov 4. Children and their families will be entertained by costumed Nutcracker characters and dancers, watch a fashion show and have lots of yummy sweets to eat. All for only $25 each. How’s that for a bargain — and a child’s delight?
(Call 1-305-532-7113 for information about the Sugar Plum luncheon; 305-532-4880, for the Nov. 30 event.)
— MARTHA GROSS
