Entertainer Bette Midler honored at annual Black & White Ball

The Nevada Ballet Theatre had its 25th anniversary Black & White Ball, sponsored by Cartier and Wells Fargo and honoring Bette Midler as Woman of the Year, on Jan. 17 at Caesars Palace.

Jan Laverty Jones chaired the event, and Gary Loveman served as honorary chairman.

The evening began with a VIP reception in the Caesars Cartier store, where the elite gathered for champagne and butler-passed hors d'oeuvres.

Ballet theater co-founder Nancy Houssels was joined by executive director Beth Barbre, artistic director James Canfield and Mariam Afshai of Cartier, where they greeted guests, including Debra Hood and Jack Smith, Madeleine and Don Andress, Sharon and Norm Jenkins, Micha Raines and Lawrence Kim.

Also in attendance were Colette Saltz, Pamela Capko, Tina Lewis, Jackie Shropshire, Melinda and Bob Brown, Joan and Robert Deiro, Beth Schwartz, Dean White, Ann and Mike Merrick, Alicia Jacobs and Nygel Lythgoe, Paige Fleming and Ted Rodriguez, Carol Mayorga, Tiffany Tiberti and Neil Michelsen.

The group moved on to the Palace Ballroom to join a crowd of 450 guests at a cocktail reception, where a large circular bar was placed under a huge silver tree decorated with hanging crystals.

Dining tables were covered in white silk with a silver sequin pattern and featured white lily and hydrangea floral centerpieces. Musical entertainment was provided by Zowie Bowie.

Houssels introduced past honorees of the Black & White Ball. Phyllis McGuire and Wendy Plaster assisted in the drawing, and auctioneer Christian Kolberg was assisted by Broadway actress Leigh Zimmerman.

Nevada Ballet Theatre dancers performed three pas de deux by Canfield.

Jonathan Halkyard presented a $50,000 check on behalf of Harrah's.

Lovee Arum introduced Midler and Houssels, Plaster and sponsors Cartier and Wells Fargo presented Midler with the signature ballerina bronze sculpture.

Among the guests were Elaine Wynn, Kenny Ortega, Toni and Victor Chaltiel, Rokh Afshai, Dee and Don Snyder, Kel Houssels, Eric Houssels, Susan Molasky, Parvin Jacobs, Dana and Myron Martin, Richard Plaster, Jeanne Hood, Michael Schulman, Kari Halkyard and Carolyn Sparks.

Others included Bob Arum, Caty Crockett, Kitty Rodman, Francine Dunn, Elizabeth Ackerman, Michelle Garver, Michael Brown, Hilary Crowley, Brad Keating, Amy Ayoub, Karolyn and Bob Andrzejewski, Ernie Maddox, Irais and Robert Kolesar, Rene and John O'Reilly, Cindy and Bill Brady, Jerri and Rich Crawford, Peter O'Neill, Humberto Gonzales, Robyne Townsend, Vera Goulet and Clint Holmes.