Go Inside Houston Ballet's 'Golden' Evening that Raised $1.65M!

Dave Rossman and Melissa Taylor
Go Inside Houston Ballet's 'Golden' Evening that Raised $1.65M!

Lauren Anderson and Fady Armanious

EVER A GLAMOROUS event, the Houston Ballet's annual black-tie ball was a glimmering affair at the Wortham, where 500 guests joined event chairs Kristy and Chris Bradshaw and Melissa Juneau.


This year’s event was inspired by Stanton Welch’s adaptation of Raymonda, a story about Raymonda and the sinister plot by the queen’s advisor to tear her love apart. Gold drapes and vibrant florals inspired by the "Peacock Ballroom" in Raymonda set the tone for the cocktail hour, and galagoers perused silent-auction items like a trip to New York Fashion Week, a chance to be a Houston Rockets ball boy (or girl!), and more.

In the Grand Foyer, Richard Flowers and The Events Company created a lavish and luxe scene with layers of lace and velvet, a black-and-white dance floor and striking chandeliers. Everyone savored the dinner courtesy of City Kitchen, and applauded the night's honorees, Deborah and Edward Koehler, who established a scholarship fund in honor of the inimitable principal dancer Lauren Anderson.

Suddenly, though, 21 ballet dancers stormed the dance floor for a surprise performance set to Harry Styles' "Golden," choreographed by Demi Soloist Jack Wolff and featuring former Principal dancer Lauren Anderson. After gold streamers rained from the sky, guests joined the packed dance floor and boogied to the tunes of party band Stratosphere. The night raised more than $1.65M for the Houston Ballet.

Co-Chair Melissa Juneau, Honorees Edward and Deborah Koehler, Co-Chairs Kristy and Chris Bradshaw

Akemi and Yasuhiko Saitoh

Victoria Gutierrez and Nick Pierce

Ann and Murphy Graham

Troy and Allison Thacker

Dancers Harper Watters and Karina Gonzalez with Ballet supporters

Terry Wayne Jones and Jay Jones

Daniel Irion, Marguerite Swartz, and Kirk Kveton

Gary and Susan Binney

Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees

Suprise Performance to Harry Styles' "Golden"

Henry and Andrea Medina

Steven and Mignon Gill

Henry and Jean May, Stanton Welch

Jim Jordan and S. Shawn Stephens

Sharon Roark, Michelle Iversen Jeffery, Leslie Alston

Roslyn Mitchell and Stephanie Tsuru

Phoebe Tudor and Fady Armanious

Jo Furr, Myrtle Jones, Sasha Davis

Margaret and Jonathan Cox

Kristy Bradshaw, Alicia Smith, Melissa Juneau

Co-Chair Melissa Juneau, Honorees Edward and Deborah Koehler, Co-Chairs Kristy and Chris Bradshaw

Akemi and Yasuhiko Saitoh

Victoria Gutierrez and Nick Pierce

Ann and Murphy Graham

Troy and Allison Thacker

Dancers Harper Watters and Karina Gonzalez with Ballet supporters

Terry Wayne Jones and Jay Jones

Daniel Irion, Marguerite Swartz, and Kirk Kveton

Gary and Susan Binney

Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees

Suprise Performance to Harry Styles' "Golden"

Henry and Andrea Medina

Steven and Mignon Gill

Henry and Jean May, Stanton Welch

Jim Jordan and S. Shawn Stephens

Sharon Roark, Michelle Iversen Jeffery, Leslie Alston

Roslyn Mitchell and Stephanie Tsuru

Phoebe Tudor and Fady Armanious

Jo Furr, Myrtle Jones, Sasha Davis

Margaret and Jonathan Cox

Kristy Bradshaw, Alicia Smith, Melissa Juneau

Art + Entertainment
Fall Philanthropy Report: March of Dimes’ ‘Signature Chefs’ Event Coming in November

What year was your organization launched? 1938

What is your mission? March of Dimes was founded in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, to combat polio. The name “March of Dimes” was suggested by entertainer Eddie Cantor as a way to encourage people to donate even a small amount, like a dime, to help fight polio.

Keep Reading Show less

ON JAN. 3, 2025, I observed a big personal anniversary. As of that day, it’d been 20 years since I first moved to Houston — from the Big Apple media circus, by way of my home state of Louisiana — and began working as an editor in the lifestyle-magazine biz here. It’s been two full decades, which is hard to believe! I like to joke that I’m far too young and good-looking to have done anything for two decades. But here we are.

Keep Reading Show less

Christopher Salazar stars as troubled-genius chef in the Alley's 'Seared'.

ONE OF HOUSTON'S favorite theater makers — Alley Associate Artistic Director Brandon Weinbrenner — has gotten some delicious news about his latest show. The run of his Seared, a sometimes-funny and sometimes-intense tale of life in the kitchen at a suddenly hot New York restaurant by playright Theresa Rebeck, has been extended beyond its original schedule and will now be up through March 9.

Keep Reading Show less
Food+Travel