Keeping us 'On Our Toes in the Hamptons'

The dance floor at On Our Toes in the Hamptons, the annual performance and fundraising gala for Ronald K. Brown’s Evidence, A Dance Company.

Last Saturday afternoon, “On Our Toes in the Hamptons,” the annual performance and fundraising gala for Ronald K. Brown’s Evidence, A Dance Company, celebrated its 25th anniversary by honoring longtime supporters Prince Kunle Omilana of Nigeria and his American born wife Princess Keisha Omilana at the home of The Honorable Bernard H. Jackson and Joyce Mullins-Jackson.

Several hundred enjoyed cocktails poolside. Hors d’oeuvres came from Kyle’s of Shelter Island including Crab cakes with chipotle mayonnaise, Vegetable samosas with mango chutney, Argentina beef, Chicken sate with Thai spice, Pork sate with ushanpon Sicilian hot panada pockets, Cajun chicken, mini-mac and cheese and sliders.

The Evidence Board Jocelyn Taylor, Gail Monroe-Perry, Zaid Abdul Zaleem, Ronald K. Brown, Andrea Hoffman, Joanne Hill, Dr. Ancy Verdier, Reginald Van Lee

Marilyn Monroe, Gail Monroe-Perry, Joyce Mullins-Jackson, Joan Morgan, Joanne Hill, Carla Anderson, Jennifer Streakes

Marilyn Monroe, Gail Monroe-Perry, Joyce Mullins-Jackson, Joan Morgan, Joanne Hill, Carla Anderson, and Jennifer Streakes

Jim Moore, Valli Moore, Barbara Clements, Felicia Daniels

Jim Moore, Valli Moore, Barbara Clements, and Felicia Daniels

The buffet dinner in an enormous tent featured Grilled lamb with feta and tomato; Sundried tomato cones filled with water chestnut and spinach dip and Spinach cones with smoked salmon mousse.

The highlight of the evening is always the performance by the dance company. Referencing their recent tour of Africa and the gala honorees, they performed the electrifying “Ebony Magazine: To a Village” which brought the crowd to their feet. Brown and his dancers – Arcell Cabuag, Waldean Nelson, Donovan Herring, Sule Adams, Lilli-Anne Tai, Annique Roberts and Nicholas Anderson – took well deserved bows to thunderous applause. Following this, Brown and the dancers asked the guests to join them on the dance floor.

Ebony Magazine: To a Village performed by Evidence, A Dance Company

The fete continued well beyond its 7pm scheduled end as dancers fueled by endless trays of sweet treats continued to pack the dance floor and get down the hot soundtrack spun by DJ Doug Dickerson and emcee Lamont McCormick of Diversified Sounds.

Event Chair was Reginald Van Lee, now Chairman Emeritus of the company. Ms. Jackson was elected Chairman earlier this year.

Hermes scarves

Andrea and Maurice Dubois, Emmy winner Lynn Whitfield, Oracean Price (mother of Venus and Serena Williams), Noel Hankin, Susan Taylor and Khephra Burns, Caron Wheeler, Dwayne Ashley, Gail Monroe Perry, Veronica Claypool, Leslie Mays, Zaid Abdul-Aleem, Dwayne Ashley, Monica Azare, Joanne Hill, Andrea Hoffman, Jennifer Streaks, Brian Haynes Copeland, Lisa Walker, Ancy Verdier and Kathleen Vita were among the crowd.

Adding a touch of glamour, Hermes displayed and sold the custom scarf created to commemorate Evidence’s anniversary and the Committee Co-Chairs all sported jeweled bags courtesy of Judith Lieber.

Evidence, A Dance Company

Andrea and Maurice Dubois with friends

Caryl McCalla

Kerri and Bernie Jackson

Tia Walker

Ronald K. Brown, Princess Keisha Omilana, Prince Kunle

Ronald K. Brown, Princess Keisha Omilana, and Prince Kunle

Jean Shafiroff and Joyce Mullins-Jackson

Jennifer Streakes, Reggie Van Lee, and Janet Baker Walker

Alexandra Diaz, Lynn Whitfield, Gail Monroe-Perry

Alexandra Diaz, Lynn Whitfield, and Gail Monroe-Perry

Sylvia Woods, Natatia Griffith, and Solange Collins

Peg Alston and Willis Burton

Reggie Van Lee, Doug Harrington, Edward Callaghan, John Wegorzewski

Reggie Van Lee, Doug Harrington, Edward Callaghan, and John Wegorzewski

Reggie Van Lee, Stephen Byrd, Antony Ebelle-Ebanda

Reggie Van Lee, Stephen Byrd, and Antony Ebelle-Ebanda

Lindsay McNeil and Paula Nailor

W. Omar Karriem, Clint Taylor, Carla Anderson, Raymond A

W. Omar Karriem, Clint Taylor, Carla Anderson, and Raymond Anderson

Wendell Scott, Annette Mitchell Scott, and Jeremy Vertis

Terri and Rickie Dean

W. Omar Karriem, Marion Burnside, Joanne Hill

W. Omar Karriem, Marion Burnside, and Joanne Hill

Federico Bella and Luzerne McAllister

Gail Monroe-Perry and Zaid Abdul-Aleem

Brenda Simmons and Bonnie Cannon

Lynn Whitfield and Spencer Means

Marion Burnside and Joanne Hill

Lamont McCormick, Douglas Dickerson aka DJ Trife

Lamont McCormick and Douglas Dickerson aka DJ Trife

Lidia Arriagada and Stephanie Taylor

Walter and Racquel Oden

Vanessa Leggard and Bruce Michael

Susan L. Taylor on the dance floor

Michelle Webb

Sheena Wright and Christopher Walker

Bernard H. Jackson, Joyce Mullins-Jackson, and Arcell Cabuag

The Women of Evidence

Last Saturday, the Advisory Council of Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center (WHBPAC) presented the 1st Annual "Be Our Guest," a gala benefit. The evening began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres catered by Starr Boggs at the fabled 1903 “Seafield” estate in Westhampton Beach hosted by its owner WHBPAC Board Chairman Len Conway. The magnificent residence was originally designed by Henry Bacon, best known for his design of the Lincoln Memorial.

This was the first large scale fete ever hosted by the performing arts center and it was a great success. As guests walked the manicured catalpa tree lined drive they were returned to the Hamptons of another era. On the veranda overlooking the Quantuck Bay, the Trevor Davis Trio played while guests dined on such classic fare as lobster rolls, local oysters, spicy grilled shrimp and baby lamb chops before heading off to one of the dozen or more dinner parties hosted in private homes.

Be Our Guest Co-chairs were Patty Allen and Lorrie Gordon. The committee for the event included Linda Kaye, Tara Liddle, Pat Middleman and Robin Nijankin. The Advisory Council is headed up by Mary Skillern, who also serves on the WHBPAC Board.

Clara Wagmann, Pia Wagmann, Matt Sachs, Theresa Arendt, and Chris Mahoney

Special guests included best selling authors Helen Simonson, who wrote “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand,” and Margaret M. Johnson, who penned “The Irish Heritage Cook Book” and “Tea & Crumpets,” as well as noted Chef Andrea Glick of Le Bernardin fame.

The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center is a vibrant venue for theater, music, dance and film, serving patrons on the East End and across Long Island. From world class artists to supporting students through the participation of children in local school productions, the Center's stage serves as a year-round focal point for the area's diverse community. Its growing popularity among audiences and performers alike is evidence that the Center offers a broad selection of enriching programming.

Carolyn Kendall Buchter and Ronald Buchter

(Dr. and Mrs.) Stanley and Peggy Zinberg

Allan and Barbara Gerstenlauer, Laura and Tom Brown, and Candee and Larry Swenson

Catherine Conway and Peter Reilly

Ann Liguori

Len Conway with Nancy and Douglas Lobel

Deanna Saltzman, Gladys Bagley, and Lorrie Gordon

Mary Skillern and Len Conway

Dr. Tara Allmen and Marjorie Zolot

Judy and Bob Rosan with Clare Bisceglia

Howard and Mary Kelberg

Gladys Bagley and Deanna Saltzman

Len Conway, George Kane, and George and Maryanne Mathys

Lynne Grioe

Ann Liguori and Mary Skillern

Anne Ritchie and Gail Collins

Mary-Ellen and Tom Shilen

Steve and Elaine Pozycki with Susan and Michael Steele

Tom and Laura Brown

Mary Jane Poole and Deborah Benjamin

Richard and Marguerite Strauss, Clara Wagmann, and Theresa Arendt

Yvonne Elliman

Rob and Stacy Rubio

Ron Buchter and Patrick Askin

Marcia and Hy Miller

Mr. and Mrs. John McLaughlin

Suzanne Marchisello, John Czygier Jr, and Dorinda Hawkins

Stephen Blacker and Ruth Summers

Nicole Labella Radoccia and Deborah Benjamin

Wendy Keys and Jaye Roter

This past Wednesday at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center more than 150 teenagers -- many from the Amsterdam Houses, the housing complex just west of Lincoln Center -- attended a panel discussion, "A Life in Fashion."

John B. Rhea, Raffle Winners, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Zach Eichman, and Lisa Marsh

Lisa Marsh, Patrick McGregor, Rachel Roy, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Jane Keltner de Valle, and Audrey Smaltz

The discussion was sponsored by Lincoln Center, IMG, the CFDA and New York City's Housing Authority (NYHA).

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff

Steven Kolb

Rachel Roy

Jane Keltner de Valle and Lisa Marsh

Patrick McGregor

John B. Rhea and Audrey Smaltz

Anthony Keegan

Last Sunday in Watermill, Tory Burch and Gina Harman celebrated the partnership of ACCION USA and the Tory Burch Foundation.

The Tory Burch Foundation’s first partner, ACCION USA, provides the loans and financial services small business people need to succeed. ACCION USA is a leading microlender in the United States, having provided loans from $500 to $50,000 to more than 11,000 small businesses nationwide. ACCION USA serves low-to-moderate income clients; 40% are women and more than 80% are minorities. Since its 1991 founding, ACCION USA has proven that low-income and small business clients historically repay these vital loans at an impressive 92%. ACCION USA offers financial literacy programs and support to people trying to establish credit histories, a critical first step to economic success. ACCION USA’s work enables clients to increase family incomes, create jobs and revitalize communities.

Maggie Neilson, Gina Harman, Bob Annibale, Tory Burch, Trevor Neilson

Maggie Neilson, Gina Harman, Bob Annibale, Tory Burch, and Trevor Neilson

Lynsey Hossman, Lisa Stroh, Kit Higgs, Abigail Manship, Kaitlin Windle

Lynsey Hossman, Lisa Stroh, Kit Higgs, Abigail Manship, and Kaitlin Windle

Tory Burch launched her Foundation in 2009. Based on her own experiences as a working parent, Tory believes that one of the most powerful ways to create change is to economically empower women. Under her direction, the Tory Burch Foundation helps women access financial tools which improve their lives.