The stage at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall was the setting for Pointe to the Future Saturday evening.
Guests enjoyed an evening of dance at the benefit for the Dance Institute of the University of Akron.
Christina Foisie, manager at Dance Institute, introduced guests of honor, Dave and Lynne Lieberth, and thanked them for their years of support for dance in the Akron area. Dave Lieberth said his career with dance began when Heinz Poll asked him to record music for the ballet.
“Then we took our daughter, Kate, to the Summer Dance Festival. She danced all the way home, and she’s never stopped dancing,” Lieberth said.
Foisie also announced Leslie Sullivan DelPrince as Teacher of the Year.
“She teaches our youngest students,” Foisie said, “and she’s also responsible for all the wonderful items in the silent and live auctions.”
Rosemary Reymann introduced her guest, Mykhaylo Moroz, who is visiting from the Ukraine, as they looked over the silent auction with Virginia Woyno-Forney. Also placing their bids were: Carol Mikofalay, Susan Resanovic, and Todd and Jennifer Snider, while Terri Poole sold raffle tickets for a 50/50 drawing.
Dancers Jocelyn Magons and Madison Kile practiced their pirouettes, while Lindsey Wilson and Hannah Merle looked at pictures of the dancers projected on a large screen over the stage.
Melody Redman came to watch her daughter Chloe perform with the ballet, along with her friend Kara Herman. Elaine Guregian came to see her daughter Zoe Dong dance, while son Quinn Dong, a jazz pianist, came to enjoy the jazz music of the Joe Augustine Trio. Daniel Birchfield said he was carrying on the “family business of dance,” following in the footsteps of his mother, Sandy Birchfield.
Dancers from the Dance Institute performed before and after dinner. Spotted in the crowd enjoying the dancers were: Drs. Mark and Sandi Auburn, Rene Pipitone, Dr. David and Patti Sinar, Diane Pancoe, Jim and Maureen Kovach, Ted and Teresa Good and Larry and Cyndee Snider.