RIOULT Dance NY Winter Gala
John A. MacKinnon and Harsha Murthy were gala co-chairs of RIOULT Dance NY's Winter Gala, “Centered on the Future” and there was much to celebrate. The company will soon break ground on a new home in Queens.
Long-time friends of the company, actress Kathleen Turner and Tony-nominated Christine Andreas performances punctuated the evening. Kathleen sang a special rendition of It’s Only A Paper Moon and Christine sang Hymne á L’Amour (reprising her 2015 collaboration with RIOULT Dance NY). During cocktails RIOULT dancers performed duets. During dinner they performed last season’s premier, Fire in the Sky with music by Deep Purple and costumes by Patricia Field.
The gala honorees included RIOULT board member Joseph W. Armbrust accepting for his longstanding service to the company and his unique expertise in governance. Also honored were members of the Astoria community; Steinway & Sons with Anthony Gilroy accepting the award. For over 160 years they have been not only an integral part of Queens but also of the international arts community. Pascal Rioult proudly announced that the address for the new RIOULT Dance Center, 34-01 Steinway Street, shares their name. Also honored was Kaufman Astoria Studios with CEO Hal Rosenbluth accepting. He gave a moving tribute to their former CEO, George S. Kaufman, who brilliantly lead a revival of film and television production in New York, and passed away just last week at the age of 89.
“As RIOULT Dance NY looks forward to international touring, our 2018 season at the Joyce Theater, and prepares to take residence in the Kaufman Arts District in Astoria, Queens, it is encouraging to be surrounded by so many supporters and well-wishers. Every day I am inspired by my glorious dancers, and buoyed by a generous Board of Directors and dedicated staff. I look forward to deepening our relationships with honorees from the Kaufman Astoria Studios and Steinway & Sons, and creating new relationships with other Kaufman Arts District residents. Together we are forging a new path for RIOULT Dance NY, the greater dance community, and northwest Queens.” - Pascal Rioult
This summer, RIOULT will open the 11,000 square-foot RIOULT Dance Center in Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District with five studios including a flex-studio and performance space with seating for over 100 audience members. The opening of the RIOULT Dance Center will mark a pivotal milestone in RIOULT’s history, not only providing a permanent home for its professional company of dancers, but also offering the community a new world-class dance facility and school.
Photos by Eric Bandiero
