Washington Ballet Checks Out 'Hemingway' At Library Of Congress; Spring Gala Touts Community Outreach

SOUTHEAST -- The hushed tones and modest behavior normally reserved for the much revered Library of Congress was temporarily supplanted by a chorus line of dancers performing the can-can and a thumping dance track on Friday evening, as The Washington Ballet hosted its annual spring gala.

Arguably the dance company's biggest spring fundraiser to date, the all-night benefit was hosted by Event Chairs Senator Chris Dodd and Jackie Clegg Dodd, as well as Honorary Chair Mariel Hemingway, and was styled by Syzygy Events International.

Modeled after The Washington Ballet's upcoming production of Ernest Hemingway’s American classic The Sun Also Rises, which premieres at the Kennedy Center on May 8th, Friday's elegant affair treated attendees to a series of abridged preview performances.

After being greeted at the steps of the building by a handful of young dancers who participate in the organization's community outreach programs, guests were ushered into the lower level of the Library of Congress for a cheery cocktail reception.

Remarks and acknowledgements by the evening's organizers, including Washington Ballet Artistic Director Septime Webre, soon followed before dinner was served on the mezzanine level courtesy of Susan Gage Caterers.

This being a Washington Ballet event, dancing was definitively on the menu as well, with DJ Pitch One keeping the dance floor busy well past the stroke of midnight.

Proceeds from Friday's 'Parisian Ball' will be used in furtherance of the nonprofit's series of community engagement programs, which extend to eight DC public and charter schools and include a campus at THEARC in Ward 8, providing classes for over 800 children annually.

Talk about a can-can do approach to the arts.