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Ballet Ball's Exotic Ode to Arabie APRIL | PAGE 10 | 2014 Social Oasis A laddin was channeled, and we could have sworn we sighted him at the Grand Foyer of the Wortham Theater Center when the Houston Ballet unfurled "La Mille et Deuxième Nuit," a grand nod to tales of The Thousand and One Nights spun by Sheherazade, as well as the company's staging of the American premiere of an elaborate, fantastical ballet the following week titled Aladdin. Chief sultana, aka chairman S. Shawn Stephens — who's an appellate attorney in her spare time — presided, while the assembled sheiks and sheikas went on a veritable magic carpet ride aided by The Events Company's elaborate Arabian decor including magenta and tangerine light projections and sumptuous silks draped from foyer balconies. City Kitchen devised the seated dinner that was rife with Middle Eastern touches (couscous complementing roasted tenderloin of angus beef, a vegetable kabob and an after-dinner Turkish coffee bar that was a big hit for hobnobbing). Other enchanting touches were a salute to Stanton Welch on his 10-year anniversary: Lynn Wyatt, who was toasted last year, turned the tables. This time, she led a troupe of dancers in staging a little number to salute artistic director Monsieur Welch, while a video directed by soloist Oliver Halkowich screened; and Methodist Hospital was recognized for its good work on treating the ballet dancers (which even includes providing trainers and message therapists). A silent auction outfitted like an Eastern bazaar — complete with tiny live monkey — completed the evening fit for an Arabian royal, which was headed to the million-dollar mark. Catherine D. Anspon A Night at the BRITTANY SAKOWITZ: "Richard Branson — it seems like he could make some magic happen." PHOTOGRAPHY FULTON DAVENPORT. "MY THREE WISHES FOR THE BALLET BALL WERE ALL GRANTED: WE SOLD AS MANY TABLES AS THE FIRE MARSHALL WOULD ALLOW ME TO FIT INTO THE WORTHAM, WE FAR EXCEEDED THE FINANCIAL GOALS, AND EVERYONE HAD A FANTASTIC TIME!" — CHAIRMAN S. SHAWN STEPHENS ( ) If you had a magic lamp, which genie would you like to see pop out? FADY ARMANIOUS: "Alexander McQueen himself. Or the love of my life." LEIGH SMITH: "Oh fun! I want it to be David Bowie in his full genie persona!" SUSIE CRINER: "Charles Butt! The most generous man on the planet." Jim Nelson Chairman Shawn Stephens Jim Jordan Gary Tinterow Oliver Halkowich Soo Youn Cho Rhys Kosakowski Phoebe Tudor Bobby Tudor Susie Criner Lynn Wyatt Connor Walsh Kevin Varner Roberta Schwartz Martha Turner Joella Mach Brad Wyatt Rose Cullen Harry Cullen Steve Mach Fady Armanious Glenn Bauguss Jacqueline Kinloch Leon Kinloch Louis Skidmore Winell Herron Reggie Smith Margaret Williams Patti Murphy Beth Muecke Jennifer Brown Leigh Smith Stephen Newton Bridget Kuhns Chris Goins Nozomi Iijima Allison Thacker Kelli Cohen Fein Martin Fein Betty Newton Erin Marquez Honoree Stanton Welch Sanford Criner Christopher Gardner Brittany Sakowitz