Opera bash floats like a butterfly
Friday-night parties sometimes turn into paying-your-dues events that
lack that certain spark. Not so, Friday night's Butterfly Ball,
benefiting the Fort Worth Opera. Even reluctant revelers couldn't shrug
off the excitement that began as soon as they arrived, thanks to the
Fort Worth Japanese Society's Dondoko Taiko Drummers. Stationed under
the porte-cochere at Ridglea Country Club, they pounded out thundering
rhythms and their infectious enthusiasm spread quickly to the crowd.
Inside, partygoers, including Fort
worth Opera diva Olivia Gorra, mingled under colorful butterflies that swayed
from the lobby ceiling. A half-dozen kids disguised as a dragon plowed
their way through the crowd. One banged a tambourine, but the dragon
seemed especially lifeless in the noisy, milling crowd. "The dragon.
seems to be dragin’," remarked Dan Roberts, the Opera's newest
executive director.
It didn't matter. This was a happy party that left its mark on
the partygoers. Many paid $10 for a removable tattoo sold by Anne
Harris and Lia Pritchett, both seniors at All Saints
Episcopal School.
Artist Nancy Lamb couldn't stop with just one tattoo. She had
to have two, one for each bare shoulder. Opera fan Kay Thomas
plastered one in the center of her forehead and then perused the silent
auction items on display.
There was a surprise tucked among the Paul Lewis prints, the
art by Dennis Blagg and Dan Blagg, the Janet
Rodriguez pottery, and the dinner packages from Maritage and Cafe
Aspen.
A small painting called Fern on the Pond was painted
and donated by Lee Moncrief. Many know that quite a few years
ago, Lee was disabled in a terrible accident. According to a sheet of
paper displayed beside the artwork she, began painting two years ago.
She paints twice weekly with instructor Allison Marks. The paper
didn't mention it, but most know that she is the sister of State Sen.
Mike Moncrief.
Few of the 300 partygoers seemed in a rush to move to the dining room
decorated with more hovering butterflies - these outlined in lights. Try
as he might, Opera boss Bill Walker couldn't hurry them along so
opera singer Oilvia Gorra could perform. Bill believes her star
is rising, and apparently Friday night’s partygoers felt so too. When
she finished, restaurateur Vitto Ciraci was the first on
his feet, applauding and shouting "Bravo!"
Before the crab cakes were saved, Smiley's Lindy Hoppers, a group of
professional dancers from Dallas, jumped onto the floor and began
to boogie to the mellow sounds of Johnny Reno's Swing Band. They wore
1940s costumes and were as mesmerizing as fish in a bowl. Other dancers
joined them - lots of others. Debutante bow-master Brice Evans,
who also did the party decorations, even cut in and danced one of the
pros 'round and 'round the floor.
Never mind that the dinner service was slow; partygoers danced
between courses without a care. This party was cookin’, and then came
the live auction. The party engine ground down to a sluggish huff. Some
revelers moved to the lobby and finally to their cars.
Oh, sure, that auction did raise important money for the Opera, and
after all, that was the point of the entire evening.
Mary Rogers - Fort Worth Star Telegram
