On Saturday, November 20, the Kansas City Ballet Guild presented the Nutcracker Ball at the beautiful Loews Kansas City Hotel chaired by Karen Yungmeyer and Tempe Ostergren Elsberry. Guests enjoyed a lively cocktail party, delicious cuisine, breathtaking decor by Craig Sole Designs, crowd-pleasing entertainment by Fountain City 45s, and a spectacular performance by Kansas City Ballet’s Second Company. Michael D. Fields, whose involvement with Kansas City Ballet has been long and noteworthy, served as Honorary Chairman. Guild President Peggy Beal and Kansas City Ballet Executive Director Jeffrey J. Bentley presented the 2021 Pirouette Award to Dr. John D. Hunkeler for his outstanding contribution to the Ballet. The Guild also recognized Kansas City Ballet Executive Director Jeffrey J. Bentley for being honored with the 2022 Missouri Arts Award for Leadership in the Arts. This award for our state’s arts heroes, the people who make the arts happen, was given by the Missouri Arts Council and the State of Missouri.
Take a look at some of our event photos | Photography by Kenny Johnson
Guild President Peggy Beal, Ball Chairman Karen Yungmeyer, Ball Chairman Tempe Ostergren Elsberry, Artistic Director Devon Carney
Stephen and Laura Mullin with Melissa Ford and Eric Molloy
KC Ballet Trainees Ian Anderson-Conlon and Chloe Exline, Joan Locke and George Langworthy, KC Ballet KCB II Dancer Nicole Townsend
Edie and Randy Downing
Dr. Michael and Cindy Wurm
Troy and Angela Moore
Executive Director Jeffrey J. Bentley, Ball Honorary Chairman Michael D. Fields, Julia Irene Kauffman
Divine Aquino, KC Ballet Dancer Cameron Thomas, David McGee, Mark Sappington, KC Ballet Dancer Mia Steedle, Hope Wampler, Chelsea Tasca
Myron and Nicole Wang with Vince and Julie Clark
Kristi Capps, Parrish Maynard with KC Ballet Dancers Amanda DeVenuta, Lilliana Hagerman, and Lamin Pereira
Dr. Veronika McDonald and Jeremy Espey
Angela Valadez, KC Ballet Dancer Whitney Huell, Patrick Valadez
Greg McCarthy and Dan Aldridge
