Hubbard Street Dance Chicago holds Season 36 Spotlight Ball, honoring Mikhail Baryshnikov, at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park

CHICAGO - Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, one of the world's premier dance organizations, together with event chair Richard L Rodes and Meg Siegler Callahan, chair of Hubbard Street's board of directors, hosted the Season 36 Spotlight Ball on Monday, May 19 at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park.

The event raised more than $775,000 for Hubbard Street's artistic, community-focused, education and youth programming. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel attended to present Hubbard Street's Spotlight Award to renowned performer Mikhail Baryshnikov for his innumerable contributions to dance appreciation and artistic excellence in the United States. More than 550 additional guests included Nora Daley Conroy, senior advisor at Metropolis Strategies and chair of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's board of trustees; Sean Conroy, vice president of Grosvenor Capital Management; Kenneth Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel LLC; Steve "Mac" MacLellan, Central Region president for Northern Trust Wealth Management; Gabrielle Rousso, executive and school director for the Art Center-Highland Park; fashion designer Kahindo Mateene, season 12 contestant on Project Runway; and Peter Taub, director of performance programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.

The event began at 6 p.m. with cocktails and a VIP reception with Baryshnikov. Following the hosts' remarks and a video produced by Emmy Award-winning HMS Media, featuring Hubbard Street's 18-member main company of dancers, attendees enjoyed a three-course dinner, Tito's Handmade Vodka and Astrolabe wines, plus an exclusive sneak preview of Hubbard Street's collaboration in progress with The Second City, to premiere Oct. 16-19 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance.

Introducing the preview performance, Artistic Director Clenn Edgerton said: "It is significant to note as well all the other collaborations with our peer organizations around the world, in dance and the performing arts, and those incredible individuals who are advocates for the importance of what we do. Thanks to all of you here tonight for being a part of the collaboration called Hubbard Street."

Calling Hubbard Street among "the greatest ambassadors around the country and around the world for the cultural quality of life we have here in the city of Chicago," Mayor Emanuel welcomed Mr. Baryshnikov to the stage. For a select few performers, observed Emanuel, "the world is their audience. You have been one of those artists." Baryshnikov then accepted the company's Spotlight Award, thanking Emanuel for advocating for the importance of the arts, and praising Hubbard Street for building "a brand name" recognized around the world. "It's a stamp of excellence," said the Tonyand Oscar-nominated performer, Kennedy Center Honoree in 2000 and recipient of the National Medal of Honor.

Ellie Bednarz, in the fourth grade at Ellen Mitchell Elementary School, where Hubbard Street provides in-classroom dance education, said: "I get to make my own choreography and learn how to be an effective collaborator and leader. Even if I don't become a dancer, I will still be able [to] use those skills in whatever I choose to do." Cynthia Bednarz explained that fostering her daughter's interest in dance, by enrolling her in Hubbard Street's Youth Dance Program, "wasn't in our budget, but Ellie's scholarship made it possible. There are hundreds of families like ours, all over the city of Chicago, who love how Hubbard Street strengthens our communities and enriches all of our lives through the experience of dance."

Silent bidding and a live auction helmed by Jason Lamoreaux raised more than $150,000 the night of the event, by offering VIP access to Lollapalooza, the Emmy Awards and Watch What Happens Live with Bravo TV star Andy Cohen; the opportunity to run dinner service at award-winning Chicago restaurant Embeya; luxury getaways to the Mediterranean, Quebec City, Nantucket Island and Park City, Utah; and much more. The gala evening concluded with dancing to music by DJ Konsept.

Season 36 Spotlight Ball Benefactors included Meg and Tim Callahan, Michael and Jacky Ferro / The Sun-Times Foundation / The Chicago Community Trust, Paul and Ellen Gignilliat, Kenneth Criffin, Sarah J. Nolan, and Denise Stefan-Ginascol and John Ginascol. Season 36 Spotlight Ball Sponsors included Allstate Insurance Company, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Ross Bricker / Jenner & Block, Marge and Lew Collens, Michael and Janet Colleran, Patti Selander Eylar and Charles Gardner, Elizabeth Yntema Ferguson and Mark Ferguson, David Herró and Jay Franke, ITW, JPMorgan Chase & Co., David and Suzu Neithercut, Northern Trust, Ellis and Sally Regenbogen, Lauren Robishaw, Camille E. Rudge / The PrivateBank Corporation, Deborah and Kelly L. Stonebraker, Jane and Michael Strauss, and USG Corporation. Season 36 Spotlight Ball Patrons included ARI, Athletico Physical Therapy, Baker & McKenzie LLP, BakerHostetler / David & Hosfield Consulting LLC, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois / HCSC, John DeBlasio / CPD Charitable Trust, Dirk Denison and David Salkin, Allan and Ellen Drebin, John W. Higgins / Higgins Development Partners, Caryn Jacobs and Dan Cedarbaum, JLL, Karten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Marc Miller and Chris Horsman, Byron and Judy Pollock, Richard L Rodes, Schiff Hardin LLP, Mary Kay Shaw, Richard and Barbara Silverman, Richard and Ann Tomlinson, Randy and Lisa White, Winston & Strawn LLP, and Neal, Cerber & Eisenberg LLP.