March
22, 2014

Dance St. Louis’ A Swan-derful Evening

Story by Terry Baer

Photos by Terry Baer

Dance St. Louis' A Swan-derful Evening

at St. Louis Union Station Hotel benefiting Dance St. Louis at 6:00 PM

 Dance St. Louis’ A Swan-derful Evening

Dance St. Louis hosted its annual Ballet Ball, A Swan~derful Evening, at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Saturday, March 22, 2014. The Ballet Ball, Dance St. Louis’ signature fundraising dinner and awards gala, supports the education/ outreach programs and operations that provide extraordinary experiences to more than 1,000 students annually.

The Ballet Ball not only celebrated dance but also the 2014 Swan Award recipients Carol and Tom Voss for their extraordinary contributions to Dance St. Louis and to the St. Louis arts and cultural community. Since 1989, Dance St. Louis has presented this distinguished award to an individual, foundation or corporation who generously and enthusiastically has played a major role in enhancing the cultural well-being of greater St. Louis by  perpetuating awareness, appreciation, and support of dance as a major art form.

The storied union of Tom and Carol Voss is epitomized by their inspirational efforts in touching people’s lives while undertaking noble causes in our community. They have devoted a considerable portion of their esprit to pervasive leadership and proactive involvement.

Tom, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ameren Corporation, exhibits the archetype of the effective executive and has elevated Ameren to eminence and recognition as a leader in the industry and a champion of diversity and safety.

His leadership at Dance St. Louis originated in 1999. Currently the Chairman Emeritus, he has served with acumen and vision as Chairman, Board President, Secretary and Endowment Chair and has raised major corporate gifts subsidizing world-class performances and life-changing education opportunities for our local youth.

Carol has displayed her strong commitment to the mission of Dance St. Louis, focusing on securing revenue for education and outreach efforts.

Tom’s board positions have and now do include Civic Progress, the MUNY, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, the Regional Chamber (former President) along with several national industry boards.

With a clear sense of purpose, Carol has embraced a multitude of causes and serves on the boards of The Arts and Education Council, Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, and the Fontbonne University Board of Trustees.

Tom and Carol’s most singular challenge has revolved around the prodigious responsiblity of chairing the year-long celebration of the founding of St. Louis, stl250. Ironically,, the first gala they chaired involved the 2009 Dance St. Louis Ballet Ball. Their volunteer activities comprise a range of chairing (alone or together) a multitude of events: Doorways Housing, Sheldon Art Foundation, City of St. Louis NAACP, Grand Center, Inc., Cancer Support Community, Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club, Urban League Awards Dinner, South Side Early Childhood Center, and many more.

Recognition has come their way as a result. Carol has garnered the Woman of Achievement Award, Woman of Worth Award, Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club Award, Grand Center Visionary Award, and the St. Louis Community Empowerment Award. Similarly, Tom has received the St. Louis University Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, the 100 Black Men Organization Leadership Award, National Children’s Cancer Society Corporate Philanthropy Award, and a recent induction into the Peoria, Illinois African American Hall of Fame. On May 4, 2014, Variety, the Children’s Charity will honor him with the Man of the Year Award.

Together, they have been recognized with the Cancer Support Community’s Marsha Wolf and Tina Borchert Inspiration Award, Doorways Housing Award, and the South Side Early Childhood Center Award. Regardless of their individual or collective tributes, Tom and Carol Voss have left their imprints indelibly etched on St. Louis’ civic, philanthropic, and corporate landscape.

Dance St. Louis has brought the great dance of the world to St. Louis audiences for 48 years. In 1966, a small group of dance enthusiasts headed by Washington University professor of dance Annelise Mertz began meeting in each other’s living rooms to figure out how to enable St. Louisans to enjoy more modern dance performances. From these informal gatherings and an operating budget of just $11,000, Dance St. Louis has burgeoned into one of the cultural treasures of St. Louis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Event Info

  • Honorees:

    Tom and Carol Voss, 2014 Swan Award

  • Event Chairs:

    Joan Quicksilver, Kathie and Richard Winter

  • Corporate Chairs:

    Warner Baxter, Corporate Sponsorship

  • Founders:

    Annelise Mertz, Founder, in Memoriam

  • Executive Director:

    Michael Uthoff, Artistic and Executive Director

  • Committee Members:

    Honorary-Lucy and Jim Baker, Allen Barber, Sally Brayley Bliss and Jim Connett, Liz and Fred Bronstein, Wendy and Jason Catron, Rhonda and Dan Cole, Jennifer Davis, Ambassador Sam and Marilyn Fox, Cheri and Ron Fromm, Nancy and Walter Galvin, Bettie Gershman, Barbara B. Goodman, Mahedra Gupta, Mary and Robert Heger, Paula and Scott Held, Craig Hofmeister, Connie and Daniel Klenke, Kristi and Mark Lindgren, Michael Patrick McMillan, Bob and Kathy O'Loughlin, Christine and Richard Pennell, Kathleen Ratcliffe, Michelle and Denny Reagan, John Reis, Betty and Thad Simons, Mayor Francis G. Slay, Peggy and Patrick Sly, Norma Stern, Mary Strauss, Dr. Donald M. Suggs, Addie and Phil Tomber, Flor Hernandez-Uthoff and Michael Uthoff, Tricia and Byron Voss, Ann and Roy Wagner, Donna Wilkinson

  • President/CEO:

    Chairman of the Board Ken Kranzberg, President Mark Lindgren

  • Staff:

    Richard M. Dee, Director of Development, Alex Klein, Grants Manager, Janet Brown, Director of Operations and Education, Berrien Tedford, Director of Finance, Rachel Lampert, Box Office Manager, Julie Kruempel, Director of Marketing and Communications, Miranda Donley, Marketing Coordinator, Michaela Ortega, Marketing Intern

  • Introductions:

    Michael Uthoff, Karen Foss, Richard Winter

  • Welcome:

    Michael Uthoff, Karen Foss

  • Speaker:

    Marilyn Sheperd, Board Education Chair

  • Libations:

    Wine with Dinner: Claude Val Blanc, Dante Merlot

  • Entertainment:

    Duet to Imagine, Sweet Caroline; Performance by the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School students; Fabulous Motown Revue

  • Sponsors:

    Presenting-Ameren Missouri, World Wide Technology, Inc.; Awards Program Presenting-Shade Tree; Event Supporting-Centene Charitable Foundation, Edward Jones, Emerson, Dr. Susan and Dan Luedke, NOVUS; Underwriting-Armstrong Teasdale, Bryan Cave, Buck Consultants, Xerox, David Mason Associates, Fox Family Foundation, Cheri and Ron Fromm, Bettie Gershman, Garden View/Kathie and Richard Winter, KPMG, Nancy and Ken Kranzberg, Lodging Hospitality Management, PWC; Swan Award Donated by Neiman Marcus; VIP Premium and Platinum Ticket Sponsors-Ambassador Sam and Marilyn Fox, Nancy and Walter Galvin, Barbara B. Goodman, Nelson Tree Service, Christine and Richard Pennell, Peggy and Jerry Ritter, Marsha and Bill Rusnack, Alice and Peter Sargent, Dr. Donald M. Suggs, Flor Hernandez-Uthoff and Michael Uthoff

  • Auctioneer:

    Fletcher Lane

  • Menu:

    Prelude: Marinated Artichoke and Roasted Beet Tort, Romaine Spear, Whipped Boursin Mousse***Entree: Roasted Tenderloin of Beef, Burgandy Demi-Glace, Jumbo Shrimp with Citrus Beurre Blanc, Peruvian Sweet and Yukon Gold Potatoes Au Gratin, Wilted Spinach with Blistered Grape Tomatoes***Finale: A SWAN-derful Confection, Freshly Brewed Starbuck's Regular and Decaffeinated Coffee, Selection of Tea

  • Attire:

    Evening Attire, Business Formal or Cocktail Attire

  • Special Thanks:

    to our sponsors and perfect dance partners; Bliss Collaborative, Gala Graphic Design; Dawn Gilbertson and Dustin Crumbaugh; The Big Muddy Dance Company; Emillie Fink, St. Louis Uniion Station Hotel; Frank Ikemeier, LHM, Vice President of Food and Beverage; Fletcher Lane, Auctioneer; Ray Parks and Chasity Hollaman; Dance Faculty at the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School; Neiman Marcus; Vivant Entertainment; Walter Knoll Florists

  • Florist:

    Walter Knoll Florists

  • Information:

    Rich Dee, 314.289.4104

  • Ticket Prices:

    $500+ per guest

  • Event Coordinator:

    Susan Werremeyer

  • Steering Committee:

    Advisory Board-Susan Block, Marie Bone, Ramsey Botterman, Susan Buford, Sara B. Burke, Natalie Clapp, Bert Condie, Steven Cousins, James Datema, David Diener, Barbara Eagleton, Nancy Galvin, Jean Gase, Peter Genovese, Judy Harris, Gary Hoemann, Mary Ann Hogan, Paul Kalsbeek, Richard Kluesner, Joanne Kohn, Karen Myers, Jerrie House Plegge, Ruthe Ponturo, Lynn Ricci, Peggy Ritter, Dorothea Rosner, Mary Rumy, Marsha Rusnack, Judi Shepard, Betty Simons, Mary Strauss, Philip Taxman, Blanche Touhill, James Virtel, Michele Walter, Richard Winter, Mary Worseck

  • Board of Directors:

    Executive Committee Officers-Chairman Emeritus Thomas Voss, Chairman of the Board Ken Kranzberg, President Mark Lindgren, President-Elect Jennifer Davis, Secretary Connie Schnuck, Treasurer Jesika Barnes, Artistic & Executive Director Michael Uthoff; Committee Chairs/At Large Members-Marilyn Sheperd, Education, Thomas Voss, Endowment, Susan E. Bindler, Legal Advisory, Mark Lindgren, Long Range Advisory, Mike Putnam, Marketing, John Michael Clear, Nominating, Brian Lowery, Susan Luedke, MD, Erika Clevenger Pope, Kent Reynolds, Dr. Donald M. Suggs, Mat Madison Turner; Directors-Allen Barber, Marie Brauer, Natalie Clapp, Rita Crain, Vanessa Halim, Linda Legg, Joan Quicksilver, Joe Robertson, Peter Sargent, Vija Turina, Andreas Wolf, Erik Wood, AIA; Lifetime Members-Bourne Bean, Jean Hobler, Joan Wendt, Anne Blatherwick, Joy Melman, Sally Brayley Bliss, Executive Director Emerita