Baryshnikov Enlivens Post-Ballet Fund-Raiser

SAN DIEGO â€”  Mikhail Baryshnikov slipped into the Grand Ballroom at U.S. Grant Hotel so quietly and unobtrusively one night last week that for several minutes after his arrival, the expectant throng of 400 wonderfully happy admirers continued to impatiently await his entrance.

Then cries of “He’s here! He’s here!� circulated through the foyer, and the crowd hastily handed glasses of Mumm champagne back to the waiters and burst into the ballroom to steal close-up glimpses of the reigning monarch of American ballet.

Baryshnikov, having dutifully danced himself nearly to death as dictated by the script of “Giselle,� the ballet that earlier that evening had opened the American Ballet Theatre’s week-long run at the Civic Theatre, looked tired and ready for bed. But the efforts that had exhausted him had exhilarated his fans to the point that they were ready to party until dawn, so Baryshnikov (or “Misha,� as those in the know called him) obligingly stayed long enough to down a few bites of supper and a glass or two of wine. Many of the fans who crowded up to offer their compliments later said that they had merely wished to offer their thanks for the star’s sterling performance upon the stage.

The dancer’s presence lent star quality to a champagne supper that already was endowed with perhaps more than its fair share of glamour. The prospect of midnight revels, particularly when scheduled mid-week, rarely rouse much enthusiasm among San Diegans, but this event emancipated everyone’s party spirit and wound up rollicking along until nearly 2 a.m.

The ballroom looked stunning. Designed to capture the eerie magic of the forest setting of Act II of “Giselle,� the decor included masses of foliage, and tree-like centerpieces constructed from rare blossoms and leaves. The menu followed no particular theme, but consisted of a series of light and tasty dishes deemed appropriate for a midnight supper by event chairpersons Cheryl Jacobsen and Terry Paul. A salmon salad preceded an entree of veal tournedos and a dessert of berries in custard sauce.

The gala was mounted as a joint fund-raiser for the San Diego Arts Foundation and the San Diego Symphony Assn., which co-presented the American Ballet Theatre’s San Diego performances. The guest roster included dozens of representatives from both groups, headlined by Arts Foundation board chairman Danah Fayman, whom foundation director Suzanne Townsend almost tearfully introduced as “San Diego’s No. 1 arts angel,� a description with which the guests evidently agreed, since they greeted Fayman with a standing ovation. Among other major Arts Foundation patrons present were Jayne and Robert Singer, Ira Katz, William Purves with Janett Shirer, Lynn and Gloria Robinson, and Rita and Joe Neeper (Joe dressed far more conservatively for this event than for the previous week’s March of Dimes benefit, to which he wore a Superman suit.)

Prominent among those Symphony supporters in attendance were Judson and Rachel Grosvenor, whose eleventh-hour contribution of $250,000 helped put the Symphony over the top in its recent emergency fund-raising drive. And it was the Grosvenors, rather than Baryshnikov, who took the first steps on the dance floor. When the Dick Braun Orchestra sailed into “Fascinating Rhythm,� Judson said, “Excuse me, it’s show time,� to his table mates, and led his wife to the floor. Cheering the couple on were JoAnn and Lee Knutson, Bea and Bob Epsten, and Symphony President Det Merryman, his wife, Crystal, and their daughter, Ashley.

Baryshnikov never did dance (in fact, he left early, and as quietly as he had arrived), but several other principal American Ballet Theatre dancers were less shy about showing off their talents, among them Bonnie Moore, Johann Renvall and Cheryl Yeager. One member of the cast who did not attend the supper was the Russian wolfhound that appeared in the ballet’s first act; he presumably was served his post-performance quenelle ration on other premises.

Most of the other guests, inspired no doubt by the evening’s performance, also took to the floor, including Barbara and Neil Kjos, who quite literally cleared the floor when they stepped out to that old Blue Grass favorite, “The Orange Blossom Special.� And Bob and Carol Randolph Caplan also danced, despite Bob’s earlier avowal that, after watching Baryshnikov’s performance, he was abandoning his ballet lessons forever.

Among the many guests present were Colleen and Guy Claire, Irwin and Joan Jacobs, Jacque Powell, Jeanne and Bill Larson, Jim Milligan, Nancy Hester, Darlene Davies, Ann Fomon and Sam Armstrong, Shearn and Linda Platt, Arthur and Sandy Levinson, Aage and Veryl Frederiksen, Terry and Al Vasqueez, Symphony maestro David Atherton, Nina and Robert Doede, Elsie and Frank Weston, Dorene and John Whitney, Elizabeth and Bill Zongker, John Haddock, Robert Reed and Karen Sickels.

Several of the same souls who had partied with Baryshnikov returned to the U.S. Grant Grand Ballroom a few hours later for “Dress Up Downtown!,� a noon-hour fashion show presented Wednesday by Horton Plaza and the Central City Assn. for the benefit of the latter.

More than 325 firms hold membership in the Central City Assn., and at least half of them were represented in the crowd of more than 500 that came to nibble on salmon and berries and watch as a parade of community notables waltzed down the runway wearing the newest and wildest spring fashions.

The day was not without its little surprises. While CCA president Clark Siebrand offered a welcoming address from the podium, a bleary-eyed, out-of-place woman wandered down the runway, set down her bag of groceries, and proceeded to harangue the crowd. She was not, as some at first suspected, a bag lady, but was rather the Gaslamp Quarter Theatre’s Kit Goldman in the guise of “Fashionable Hussy, the Spirit of Downtown.� Her rhyming couplets, when interpreted, provided an upbeat view of the improvements under way in the city’s heart. “I know the place is kind of sleazy, but who said getting ahead was easy?� asked Goldman’s character.

Television newscaster Carol LeBeau narrated the celebrity segment of the show, which opened with Craig Noel strutting into view wearing a jaunty red yachting jacket with navy trousers. “If you don’t have spring fever now, you will when we’re through,� warned LeBeau, who then proceeded to introduce a roster of dressy VIPs that included Assemblywoman Lucy Killea (looking tres chic in a layered Morrocan outfit); Gaslamp Quarter Council director Larry Monserrate; Sushi Gallery director Lynn Schuette; City Councilwoman Judy McCarty, and John McCann, managing director of the San Diego Repertory Theatre. Little Alexandra Gill, who looked like she might not be ready for life on the runway for another 15 years or so, stole the show; she made a reluctant appearance in the company of her mom, public relations woman Gail Stoorza-Gill. A presentation of professionally modeled fashions, all from Horton Plaza shops, followed.

Among table patrons were Bob Welanetz, Dick Bundy, Tom Gable, Roy McCoy Sr., Tom Hom, Bob Dobson, Lesley Binder, Don Innis, Biff Porter, Walter Smyk, William Sauls, Angela Murphy, Terry Hughes, Matt Spatha, Gerald and Maxine Trimble, and Jean Scott. The guest list also included Nanci Washburn, Odell Murry, Tom Fat, Francie and Chris Mortenson, Marian Smith, Cheryl Ayers and Leslie Meads.

CORONADO--Rabbits, as is widely known, tend to be fruitful and multiply with little encouragement, but so many of them jammed the stage in the Hotel del Coronado’s Grande Ballroom Wednesday night that it looked as if a major population crisis were in the making.

These particular bunnies, however, were of the stuffed variety, and were the price of admission to the annual Gala Easter Ball hosted by Tom Groff and a bunch of his bachelor buddies. The toys (no one was admitted to the ballroom without producing both a rabbit and an invitation) were given to needy children for Easter.

Rabbits aside, the party had a certain rite-of-spring tone to it, thanks to the fact that the guest list was limited largely to singles, who flocked to the ballroom in droves to meet and mingle. So many crowded in, in fact, that a precise head count was hard to take, but the estimate ran well over 700.

The group that hosts this event always demands elegance, and invitations that firmly stated “tuxedo mandatory� and “ chapeau required� (for the ladies, that is) were devoutly obeyed. The women found the hat requirement anything from a delight to a challenge, and showed up in headgear that ranged from gauzy, jewel-encrusted confections to Laura Knight’s rabbit-eared creation, which also boasted plastic grass, Easter eggs and a bumper sticker that read, “I saw the Easter Bunny at University Towne Center.�

Joining Groff as hosts were Joe Harmon, Noel Meadows, Terry Teudt, Bill Woods, Robb MacMillan, Zeke Woolley, Gunter Enz, Glenn Freed, Isamcq Khoury, Cliff Neyenesch, Ed Woolery and Hal Beck.

Among the guests were Chris McKellar, Kathy Aunan, Alex Szekely, Jeannette Day, Charles Ward, Clare White, Don McVay, Becky Rader, Cindyn Westbrook, Lori Murray, and Tim and Tally Larrick.