D.C. Definitely Not Late For Very Important Date; Jete Society Dance Party Puts On The Ritz!

Dance Party co-chairs Ashley Taylor and Winston Lord stand flanked by 'ALICE (in wonderland)'-costumed models.

Be sure to check out all 193 of our photographs from this event HERE!

The Guest List:

NORTHWEST -- Washingtonians got a little ‘mad’ on Saturday evening, as The Washington Ballet Jeté Society's signature annual dance party took over the sprawling lower level of The Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C.



In a nod to the award-winning dance company’s upcoming performance of ‘ALICE (in wonderland)’ (April 11th-15th), the night boasted a special ‘Mad Hatter’ theme from start to finish, complete with roaming magicians and a prop-filled photo booth.


Costumed greeters sporting some of the outfits that will be featured in the performance itself greeted guests at the door and could be spotted mingling about throughout the night, along with co-hosts Ashley Taylor and Winston Lord.



The performance’s costumes are particularly noteworthy since they were created by famed designer Liz Vandal (the same costume designer behind Cirque du Soleil’s award-winning OVO show).


As in past years, Washington Ballet Artistic Director Septime Webre joined Taylor and Lord on-stage at approximately 10:30pm to introduce an energetic dance performance piece choreographed by company faculty member Aaron Jackson, as hundreds of ticketholders looked-on.


Now in its eleventh year, the Dance Party is always one of the season’s most popular galas for D.C.’s young tastemakers, and the 2012 edition surely didn’t disappoint.



Spotted among a sea of beautiful people, including athletes, corporate executives, media personalities, philanthropists, and non-profit leaders, was everyone from Washington Nationals Third Baseman Ryan Zimmerman to ABC 7 anchor Pamela Brown to Washington Kastles owner Mark Ein.


Unlike some of the city’s other can’t-miss formal affairs, the Jete Society Dance Party is notable for the fact that guests almost always come prepared to dance.


And dance they did until the clock struck 2:00am, with New York City-based DJ Pitch One spinning-up hours of popular hits, including everything from Journey to Bon Jovi to The Black Eyed Peas to the occasional thumping house mix.



Most likely the city’s first true dance dance revolution of the new year!

Be sure to check out all 193 of our photographs from this event HERE!