Celebrities, designers, and dance enthusiasts came together on March 9th for a night of performance and celebration. The Steven Petronio Company hosted a gala that both celebrated the second season of “Bloodlines,” and also honored Diane Madden, the Associate Artistic Director of the Trisha Brown Dance Company and Richard E. Feldman, President of the SHS Foundation and major supporter of Brown’s work.
Hosted by icon and leader of contemporary dance, Stephen Petronio created his company in 1984. A standout in breaking barriers of dance and blurring the lines between movement and fashion, Petronio has been recognized with a number of honors, including a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts Award, New York Foundation for the Arts Award, and an American Choreographer Award. The Steven Petronio Company, has performed in 26 countries throughout the world, including more than 35 New York City engagements with 21 seasons at The Joyce Theater. Petronio’s company took to the Joyce Theater once again on the 9th. Though the performance began the evening, it in no way ended it. Artists, designers, and celebrities came together after the performance for a gala reception at the Dream Downtown Hotel in New York City.
The gala was co-chaired by Alison Mazzola and Lisa Resling Halpern and attended by notable faces such as actress Rose McGowan, Jill Brienza, Cindy Sherman, Harold Koda, Karen Erickson (jewelry designer of Erickson Beamon), Janine Antoni, fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez, Joe Baldinger and Indira Cesarine of The Untitled Magazine. Attendees were treated to the “Bloodlines” program which featured Trisha Brown’s landmark Glacial Decoy from 1979, with visual design by Robert Rauschenberg, Stephen Petronio’s acclaimed MiddleSexGorge (1990), set to a commissioned score by the British post-punk band Wire, and the world premiere of Petronio’s talking dance, Big Daddy (Deluxe).
Though the event hosted 250 people, it was a low-key atmosphere and relaxed menu that included salmon and penne vodka. For Mr. Petronio, it was a night not only to celebrate “Bloodlines” and the honorees, but also to enjoy his upcoming sixtieth birthday. Sponsored by Svedka, the evening was filled with incredible performance, fun costumes, and good company.
