More than 200 State Street Ballet supporters attended our 30th anniversary gala at the beautiful Music Academy of the West on September 28, 2024. Co-chaired by Alex Nourse and Dr. Nicole Callahan, the gala was themed around our season opener, Scheherazade and The Firebird.

After a lively cocktail hour, guests adjourned to Hahn Hall for a short performance, including an excerpt from Le Spectre de la rose performed by Harold Mendez, the pas de deux from Autumn Eckman’s Scheherazade with Saori Yamashita and Ryan Lenkey, and an ensemble piece, “Accelerate,” choreographed by Executive Director Megan Philipp.

After a paddle raise to support the company’s new season, led by writer-historian Erin Graffy de Garcia, the evening continued with a sumptuous dinner under the stars with music from the UCSB Middle East Ensemble and a performance by our Professional Track dancers choreographed by Alexandra King.

Our 30th Anniversary Gala was graciously sponsored by Margo Cohen-Feinberg, Dr. Nicole Callahan, Gerald Isenberg and Caroline MacDougall, Roger and Justine Thompson, Roger and Sarah Chrisman, Richard Watts, Brooks and Kate Firestone, Chris Lancashire, Dennis and Setsuko Furuike, Robert and Alexandra Nourse, Seth Geiger and Teri Jory, Tim Mikel, Andre Yew, Coleen Stewart, Hank Doherty and Maureen Bowis, State Street Ballet Academy, Alan Miller and Mary Jane Miller, Barbara and James Ruh, Carrie Towbes and John Lewis, Daniel S. Rimkus, Edward McGinn, Gwynn Boss, Marylove Thralls, and Michael Duca.

If you would like to join our gala committee to plan our 2025 fundraising event, please email contact@statestreetballet.com.