Sir Real: A ‘fantastical’ bash hosted by The Joffrey Ballet

It was described on the invitation as a “fantastical bash” and The Joffrey Ballet’s Sir Real celebration was all that and so much more. René Magritte would have been so proud. As a matter of fact, all the event servers paid homage to his “The Son of Man” painting by wearing bowler hats with a green apple perched on top. And, as guests entered, dancers were ‘warming up’ wearing frogs’ heads below a massive Magritte-inspired mural featuring Greg Cameron, the honoree. Yes, it was surreal from top to bottom and beginning to end.

The cavernous space at The Old Post Office on Van Buren had been decorated with all sorts of whimsy, including a ‘cloud ceiling’ with huge, hanging pink satin toe shoes. The event had so many moving parts that the over 800 guests were mailed maps of what the event would entail. There was a whiskey room, seafood lounge, a variety of photo opportunities, singing astronauts (Radius Vocals), multiple buffet stations, dancing, a parade of dancers, and then, of course, the guests themselves in their fabulous attire!

John Walcher, a longtime supporter, wore a birdcage on his head, Leslie Zentner (WB member) and her husband Bob wore gilded picture frames around their necks, Adam Vitale wore a blue and white polka-dot suit, Alexa Rice’s headband featured an over-sized golden eye, Dia Weill (WB member) wore a colorful butterfly headpiece by Philip Treacy, Pierre Lockett (Forward Momentum founder) wore a white turban with a matching jumpsuit and honoree, Greg Cameron wore a plush ram’s head helmet…….you get the picture.

Cameron, the Joffrey’s president/CEO, was honored for his ten years of outstanding service. During a presentation, Ashley Wheater (artistic director) and Anne Kaplan (Joffrey board chair and a presenting sponsor) dedicated the Administrative Floor at Joffrey Tower “The Greg Cameron Campus.”

“This past weekend we celebrated Robert Joffrey’s vision for an inclusive organization where artists and students are always at the center. Friday’s celebration at the Old Post Office warmed us up for Joffrey For All. Over 7,500 dance enthusiasts enjoyed a free performance in Chicago’s magnificent Pritzker Pavilion that concluded with a double rainbow (thank you Mother Nature). We move people!,” Cameron said.

The free performance in Millennium Park, the Joffrey for All program, included a dance class on the lawn led by students in the Joffrey’s Community Engagement program with a 90-minute performance following. It was presented as a ‘thank you’ to Chicago. 

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