Ballet Building Officially Named in Honor of Margaret Alkek Williams at Downtown Fete

Wilson Parish
Ballet Building Officially Named in Honor of Margaret Alkek Williams at Downtown Fete

Jim Nelson, Margaret Alkek Williams and Stanton Welch

IT'S OFFICIAL! THE Downtown Houston building that houses Houston Ballet has been named the Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance building, and a group of Williams’ friends and Ballet faithful gathered there to celebrate.


The Houston Ballet announced in May that Williams, perhaps the Houston cultural scene’s more generous patron, had made a $10 million legacy gift to the company. “This philanthropic commitment was directed to the Houston Ballet Endowment and provides unrestricted support to maintain the Ballet’s home and ensure the Houston Ballet’s mission to inspire a lasting love of dance flourish in permanence,” noted a Ballet rep.

“In honor of Margaret Alkek Williams’ legendary devotion to the Houston Ballet, the home of the Houston Ballet, standing six stories tall at the entrance of downtown Houston, was named the Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance.”

About 80 guests turned up to mark the occasion and honor Williams in the building’s lobby, decorated with florals in the grand dame’s favorite shades of pink and purple. “To be able to do this for the Houston Ballet means so much to me,” said Margaret Alkek Williams. “I am honored that you are all here to celebrate with me, and I thank you for joining me in supporting the Ballet.”

Kelley Lubanko and Jo Furr

Phoebe Tudor, Ileana Treviño and Leigh Smith

Mark Grace and Alex Blair

Danny Ward and Nancy Ames

Duyen Nguyen, Sunday Shepherd and Martha Finger

Bill Stubbs, David Wuthrich and John Mangum

Chase Untermeyer, Peggy Smith, Diana Untermeyer and Ashley Smith

Margaret Alkek Williams and the Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance

Mignon Gill, Kristy Bradshaw and Ann Graham

Jim Daniel and Hallie Vanderhider

Art+Culture
Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

Keep Reading Show less

Jessica and Ryan Getz, Grace Ward

HOUSTON NONPROFIT Dec My Room threw a country-music-filled bash at House of Blues, where supporters two-stepped the night away and raised record-breaking proceeds, which will be used to decorate and customize hospital rooms of pediatric and young-adult patients all over the country. To date, the organization has improved the attitudes and healing process of 18,000 patients in nearly 200 hospitals.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties

THE STANDARD BEARER FOR LUXURY

We built The Village communities to exemplify sophisticated retirement living in Houston, surrounded by the heritage neighborhood of River Oaks, Tanglewood and Southampton. Each offers impeccable designer finishes and Aspenwood service detail with dining and resortstyle amenities making them premier locations for discerning Houstonians and their families. Impressive, spacious residential floor plans, generous natural light, and expansive terraces allow a new level of indoor-outdoor living. Beautiful spaces are designed for entertaining, fitness, and relaxation with a dedicated team to provide a secure lock and leave lifestyle for our members.

Keep Reading Show less