Kicking off the Ballet season

Sharon Roark, Susan and Gary Binney, Karina Gonzalez, Paul and Gay Currie, Steve and Mignon Gill, David Groover, Sasha Davis, C.C. Conner, and Jessica Collado enjoyed Houston Ballet’s Opening Night Onstage Dinner. Chaired by Shara and Kent Schaffer and honoring Jim Nelson, the evening raised a record-breaking $500,000. More than 220 supporters gathered at the Wortham Theater Center’s Brown Stage to celebrate Houston Ballet’s 2025-2026 season and watch John Cranko’s Onegin, based on Alexander Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin. After the performance, artistic director Julie Kent addressed guests with a moving tribute to Jim Nelson’s career with Houston Ballet and council member Joaquin Martinez presented Nelson with a surprise proclamation from the City of Houston. In a symbolic “passing of the baton,” Nelson introduced Houston Ballet’s new executive director Sonja Kostich and led guests in a toast to Houston Ballet’s friend Mrs. Margaret Alkek Williams for her 90th birthday.  

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