It wasn’t exactly a pall that fell over Ballet Arkansas’ Turning Pointe fundraiser April 7, but the news earlier that day of the death of Broadway actor and Arkansas native Lawrence Hamilton certainly had a few people dabbing their eyes. Even Gov. Mike Beebe, who typically works a crowd like a butter knife at a bakery, was content just to hang out in one spot.
The night’s honoree, Kaki Hockersmith, said she and others who knew him so well were in shock.
Hamilton was the highest order socialite when he was in town (which was less and less - he was in New York angling for his next big project). He was not only on familiar terms with all the33rd-degree gala goers, but a regular performer at the biggest fundraisers of the year, too.
“Lawrence is truly treasured by an incredible number of people in the Arkansas arts world, an incredible number of people here tonight,” said event chairman Karen Bassett, who sparked a round of applause by recalling Hamilton’s rendition of the song “Mary, Did You Know?” at the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s Christmas show some time back.
The fundraiser took place in a hangar off the city’s airport, as it did last year. The space is a blank box with which designers take liberty to go big with lighting and curtains. It’s always beautiful. And while guests dined on a salad, braised beef braciole stuffed with basil and mozzarella, and chocolate creme brulee or strawberry zabaglione, company dancers and members of the youth division performed.
Highlights of the show included artistic director Michael Bearden’s “Simpatico” set to a Dmitri Shostakovich movement, and Melody Mennite’s modern and sensuous “Ana,” set to“Next of Kin” by The Rebecca West.
The youth division’s “The Winner Is,” choreographed by Deanna Karlheim to “The Winner Is” by DeVotchKa and “Recomposed” by Max Richter, based on Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, got a standing ovation.
Ballet Arkansas executive director Lauren Strother said Turning Pointe raised about $80,000.
High Profile, Pages 47 on 04/13/2014