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Having a Ball E very black-tie gala is about the red-carpet fashion as much as the fundraising — and this year's Houston Ballet Ball proved my point. The decor channeled the Peacock Ballroom featured in the ballet Raymonda, inspiring gowns fashioned of copious yards of satin, barrels of sequins and beads, and beaucoup feathers. The ravishing fashion pace in the Wortham Theater Center Grand Foyer was set by chairs Melissa Juneau in Marchesa and Kristy Bradshaw in custom Bach Mai, both gowns in fiery red. The duo and Chris Bradshaw led the evening, which honored Deborah and Edward Koehler, to $1.65 million in proceeds. In peacock emerald-green beaded gowns, Leigh Smith, Phoebe Tudor, and Stephanie Tsuru created a stir among photographers hoping to capture the glittering trio. Costuming among gala-goers was as vibrant as that of any Houston Ballet production, and the tableau created by The Events Company set the party stage. How many iridescent black coque feathers IN A WHIRL OF DESIGNER GOWNS, HOUSTON BALLET RAISES THE BARRE. By Shelby Hodge. Photography Dave Rossman. were in Fady Armanious' flowing cape, only designer Naeem Khan would know. We can only imagine how many yards of emerald-green beaded taffeta was used in the voluminous Pamella Roland gown worn by Hallie Vanderhider. Then there was ballet principal dancer Harper Watters waltzing across the dance floor in a royal-blue gown by Harry Hamlin. Quite the look. Post dinner, corps de ballet dancers streamed onto the dance floor to the sound of Harry Styles' "Golden" in a salute to retired Houston Ballet principal dancer Lauren Anderson. PC Seen: Allison and Troy Thacker, Margaret Alkek Williams, Shara and Kent Schaffer, S. Shawn Stephens and Jim Jordan, Sneha and Nick Merchant, Margaret and Jonathan Cox, Marguerite Swartz, Martha Finger, Jay Jones and Terry Wayne Jones, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Leigh and Reggie Smith, Lindsey Brown and Chris Shepherd, Cabrina Owsley, Christine and David Underwood, Myrtle Jones, and Mignon and Steven Gill. Jim Nelson, Margaret Alkek Williams Shara & Kent Schaffer Co-chairs Melissa Juneau Chris & Kristy Bradshaw Henry & Andrea Medina Syvert Garcia Marguerite Swartz Reggie & Leigh Smith Stanton Welch, Julie Kent Honorees Edward & Deborah Koehler Phoebe & Bobby Tudor Stephanie & Frank Tsuru Jay Jones Martha Finger 24