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26 GOOD AS GOLD Kellie & Wilfredo Estrada TACA'S FINALE TO ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR. By Christina Geyer. Photography Gary Donihoo, Kim Skiles. G orgeous dancers and Stevie Wonder! Oh my gahhhhhhd …," enthused Joel Ferrell, Dallas Theater Center's associate artistic director; this O-M-G pronouncement followed the world pre- miere of the TACA-commissioned performance of "Celebration" at the 50th Anniversary Gala. The black-tie evening at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek was the exclamation point on a year of celebratory events led by 50th Anniversary chairs (and newly engaged couple) Wanda Gierhart and Dean Fearing. When we fi rst met with Gierhart to discuss her plans for TACA's golden year, she had one goal in mind: Incorporate more arts into each of TACA's annual events. After all, TACA's mission is to fund the performing arts in Dallas, so why not let its fund-raising events double as venues. Gierhart succeeded in spades. Curated by TITAS executive and artistic director Charles Santos, "Celebrate" brought dancers together from Bruce Wood Dance, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and Dark Circles Contemporary Dance in a spirited piece choreographed by Dallas Black Dance Theatre artistic di rector Bridget L. Moore. Set to a compilation of Stevie Wonder tracks, it was just the thing to spice up cocktail hour — and entice guests to raise their paddles in the raucous live auction that followed. The portion of the evening for which TACA is most famous is the coursed, seated dinner throughout the Mansion's restaurant, bar, and upstairs suites that feels less like a fund-raiser and more like an opulent old-world repast in a beautiful home. A few familiar former Mansion- ites were in the house. Of course, there was Fearing, the hotel's former executive chef, who joked, "I only know a little bit about this place …" And Deborah and John Scott, who recent- ly moved back to Dallas after a stint in London. John, former CEO of Rosewood Hotels, now has his sights set on the opening of his private, members-only club, Park House, in Highland Park Village. Deborah, his partner in the project, sported her signature look: a jumpsuit, this one in sexy red lace. ALSO ON THE SCENE: TACA's incoming board president Michelle Thomas, succeeding current board chair Donna Wilhelm; TACA executive director Wolford McCue; Nasher Sculpture Center director Jeremy Strick with wife Wendy Strick and new Nasher Store director Donald Fowler; longtime arts patrons Diane and Hal Brierley, as well as Lisa and Bill Ogle, Andrea and John Weber, Lynn and Allan McBee, Laree Hulshoff and Ben Fischer, Robert Weatherly, and Nick Even. Juliette & Mark Moussa Donna Wilhelm, Wolford McCue, Michelle Thomas Arun & Koshi Dingra Larry Waks Dean Fearing Wanda Gierhart Jan Barboglio Jennifer & Coley Clark Deborah & John Scott Sally & Ross Taylor Bill & Linda Custard Diane & Hal Brierley