Katie Holmes

Bennett Raglin/Getty Images

There was plenty to celebrate at American Ballet Theatre’s Spring Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street this week. The evening honored Katie Holmes, a longtime supporter of the company, while also offering a preview of artistic director Susan Jaffe’s take on Don Quixote ahead of its debut this season at the Metropolitan Opera House. The milestone gala also marked the 20th anniversary of ABT being designated the country’s National Ballet Company by an act of Congress—underscoring the New York-based institution’s ardent commitment to expanding national access to classical ballet.

The black-tie affair began promptly at 6:30 p.m. with red carpet arrivals and cocktails. Guests gathered in the soaring Neo-Renaissance banquet hall, which was kitted out for the evening in Don Quixote’s rich and romantic palette of pinks, reds, and gilded tones. Designers including Zac Posen, Bach Mai, Michelle Ochs, and Monse’s Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim turned out in force to support, alongside many friends of the company from across fashion and the arts

“I feel like a ballerina princess—and isn’t that the goal tonight,” said author Sarah Hoover, holding court in a voluminous color-blocked peony and fuchsia Carolina Herrera gown. Tina Leung glided by in an Infanta-worthy blush dress with a tiered balloon skirt by Alejandra Alonso Rojas. Iris Apatow (who recently played a killer ballerina in the action-thriller Pretty Lethal) and May Nivola opted for shades of silk that any bunhead would recognize as “theatrical pink” and “ballet pink” via their Rodarte looks, and Ivy Getty opted for a sherbert-hued Rat & Boa halter dress covered in paillettes.

The ballerinas themselves offered their own interpretations of after-dark glamour by trading tutus for sparkling gowns. Isabella Boylston, expecting her first child next month, paired a Buci black cutaway silk top and maxi skirt with jewels by Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier. “It’s the only time I’m going to have my bump out at a gala,” she said. Her fellow principal dancers Christine Shevchenko and Catherine Hurlin—who starred as Kitri in Acts II and III of Don Quixote—pulled off a quick change and slipped into Monique Lhuillier feathers and sequins, respectively, while Chloe Misseldine was a vision in shimmering Akris. The leading men were equally polished in their tuxes and suits: Luigi Crispino and Patrick Frenette wore Giorgio Armani while Calvin Royal III (who stars in Louis Vuitton’s men’s pre-fall 2026 campaign) wore Issey Miyake, and all three were frosted in LeVian diamonds.

Holmes embraced the evening’s all-American spirit in a trio of American designers, wearing a white floral silk jacquard minidress layered over a coordinating balloon skirt by Ashlyn, a diamond necklace and earrings by Arielle Ratner, and Herbert Levine heels. Presenting Holmes with her award—a Lladró porcelain ballerina—actor Alexander Hurt reflected on how the actress, director, writer, and producer led creative movement warm-ups during their recent run of Hedda Gabler in San Diego. “Katie made me feel like I can dance,” he said. “That’s one of her gifts. She makes people feel freer than they’re used to feeling.”