Stephen Petronio Dance Company April 5th Performance & Gala

Jean says: Dahlings! All of you who always ask us where to go & what to do, PAY ATTENTION! Here's our personal recommendation for THE best artistic & social event of Spring 2011:

Tuesday evening, April 5th is the Stephen Petronio Company's opening night at the Joyce Theater, with a gala cocktail reception after the performance. The glamorous Lucy Liu is chairing the benefit committee along with Willem Dafoe, Lou Reed & Laurie Anderson -- and Beatric Ost! Costumes are by Tara Subkoff for Imitation of Christ (wouldn't the nuns just love that!). Nick Cave did the music. The opening night gala features the New York premiere of Underland (which Stephen originally choreographed for the Australian Ballet).

2011 is the year of the tutu! Discover your inner Black Swan. (I did!)

Of course, Valerie is coming as are all of the usual suspects. Click on the photo evite for all the pertinent details. Gala tickets are just $250 and include both the performance and the gala reception afterward. Most of the cost of the ticket is tax dedutictible. You'll be supporting the arts & mixing and mingling with gorgeous dancers - and, of course, with us! To purchase tickets, call 212-473-1660 or email ariel@stephenpetronio.com Tickets can be purchased online at stephenpetronio.com.

I've seen an excerpt of Underland and it blew me away. Take my word for it -- the choreography is truly wonderful, the dancers are thoroughbreds, and the music is to die for!

Here's the scoop on the location of the gala cocktail reception: The venue this year is the very groovy Hotel Griffou restaurant on 9th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. Click on the link to see the place -- lots of open space & private rooms to hang out in, to see & be seen! (Go to http://www.griffou.com/)

I do hope you can join us on Tuesday evening. Of course, we intend to "dress to kill"! The performance starts promptly at 7:30 PM at the JoyceTheater, 175 Eighth Avenue @ 19th St. Sweeties -- Be there or be hopelessly square!

Check out the photo of the dancers on page 1 of this week's issue of Time Out New York, and the article on page 45 by Gia Kourlas.