Rose Garland Tents, Lavish Gowns: Grand Gala Ball Raises $1.85 Million

The 2016 Museum of Fine Arts Grand Gala Ball drew more than 450 guests, entering underneath a tent decked with rose gold garlands and five sparkling chandeliers for a night of dinner and dancing.

The Museum’s Cullinan Hall was transformed by the evening’s theme “Come Dance with Me!”,celebrating the exhibition Degas: A New Vision and the artist’s iconic ballerinas. During the cocktail hour, a tableau vivant (living picture) performance by ballerinas atop a rose petal covered pedestal brought Degas’s work to life through the gestures of his graceful subjects. Décor by Todd Events included tables set with centerpieces of antique pink garden roses, crystal candelabras, luxurious linens, and pave floral columns. Guests danced and enjoyed the sounds of The Jordan Kahn Orchestra. City Kitchen wowed with a menu that included lobster salad, pan roasted breast of chicken with cognac and crème fraiche, and pumpkin with sage and hazelnuts. For dessert, guests indulged in Ile flottante with crème anglaise. Wines were generously donated by Lee and Cristina Hudson, and Lisa and Ralph Eads—supplying the MFAH with their spectacular Chardonnay from Napa, and Bordeaux from Saint Émilion respectively.

2016 Grand Gala Ball Ballerinas; Photo by Wilson Parish

The Museum raised over $1.85 million, directly benefiting the operating budget of the MFAH.

Spotted at the grand gala Ball were: Nancy and Rich Kinder; Sara and Bill Morgan; Phoebe and Bobby Tudor; Barbara and Gerald Hines; Janice and Bob McNair; Diane Lokey Farb; Cherie and Jim Flores; Lynne and Joe Hudson; Lee and Cristina Hudson; Cornelia and Meredith Long; Martha Long; Courtney Sarofim; Carol and Michael Linn; Cynthia and Tony Petrello; Ann and John Bookout; Pat Breen; Rose Cullen; Anne and Charles Duncan; Prince Piotr and Princess Maria-Anna Galitzine; Margaret Alkek Williams; Jeanie Kilroy Wilson and Wallace Wilson; Lela and Robin Gibbs; Sandy and Lee Godfrey; Ginni and Richard Mithoff; Macey and Harry Reasoner; Leslie and Brad Bucher; Laurie and Reed Morian; Lynn Wyatt; Karol Barnhart; Shahla and Hushang Ansary; Eliza and Stuart Stedman; Sara Paschall Dodd; Nancy and Butch Abendshein; Susan and Lenoir Josey; Gail and Louis Adler; Kathy and Marty Goossen; Judy and Rodney Margolis; Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff; Meredith and Fielding Cocke; Kathy and Jody McCord; Linda and Walter McReynolds; Elise and Russell Joseph; Lisa and Ralph Eads; Isabel and Ransom Lummis; and Jay Jones.