December 5, 2026
Nutcracker Ball
Join us for the 59th annual gala!
Waltz among the flowers at the Kansas City Ballet Guild’s 59th annual gala, the Nutcracker Ball, on Saturday, December 5, at the Marriott Downtown Hotel. The Count Basie Ballroom will be exquisitely decorated in holiday splendor as we kick off the season with elegance and flair! The evening will begin with a cocktail reception, followed by a sumptuous dinner and entertainment. Then, attendees can take to the ballroom floor and celebrate with The Crossroad Sound!
All proceeds from the Nutcracker Ball support Kansas City Ballet, our nationally recognized ballet company. Your tax-deductible gift allows Kansas City Ballet to provide outstanding classical ballets, world premieres and works from gifted international choreographers. Your gift also supports scholarships for students at our award-winning Kansas City Ballet School and enables ongoing ballet engagement in the community.
Have questions? Contact Juliette Singer Spinks & Cyndi James.
Ball Honorary Chairman
Craig Sole
Ball Co-Chairmen
Juliette Singer Spinks & Cyndi James
Become a Benefactor Today!
Benefactor levels start at $800 and go up to $65,000. Please download this form to see all levels and benefits.
As a Nutcracker Ball benefactor, you are also invited to enjoy a fabulous cocktail party at The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
All Ball benefactor levels will receive recognition in the Ball invitation and program book as well as in Kansas City Ballet program books and website.
Benefactor levels of $5,000 and greater also receive membership benefits for The Bolender Society with exclusive invitations to special events.
(Donation may include corporate matching funds.)
DOWNLOAD THIS FORM TO SEND A CHECK BY MAIL
2026 Nutcracker Ball Co-Chairmen Juliette Singer Spinks (left) & Cyndi James (right) with Kansas City Ballet Guild President Edie Downing (middle). Photo by Strauss Peyton Portrait Studio.
Benefactor Levels
For More Information
Contact Ball Co-chairmen Juliette Singer Spinks & Cyndi James at 816.381.6942 or balletball@kcballet.org.
Presented by Kansas City Ballet Guild
The Kansas City Ballet Guild was formed in 1961 by a group of Kansas City Ballet dancers’ parents to promote interest in and provide financial assistance to the company. Since then, the Guild has been integral to the success of the professional, world-class Kansas City Ballet. With over 200 members strong, these men and women enjoy special educational programming, exclusive access to company dancers, and have a lot of fun! Their activities also raise significant necessary funds for the company’s repertory, its community and educational programs, and the Kansas City Ballet Archives.
2023 Nutcracker Ball Chairman Jo Anne Dondlinger, Kansas City Ballet Executive Director David Gray and Cyndi James. Photography by Kenny Johnson.
Pirouette Award
The Kansas City Ballet Guild proudly presents the Annual Pirouette Award to a person or persons who have contributed extraordinary amounts of time, talent, and energy in a voluntary capacity to benefit the Kansas City Ballet and the performing arts community.
1983 R. Crosby Kemper, Jr
1984 Richard Harriman
1985 Patricia McIlrath
1986 Jeannette Nichols
1987 James Costin
1988 Russell Patterson
1989 Paul H. Henson
1990 Todd Bolender
1991 Jay McShann
1992 George E. Powell, Jr.
1993 Muriel I. Kauffman
1994 Mr. & Mrs. Henry W. Bloch
1995 Hallmark Cards, Inc.
1996 Patricia Judd
1997 Anonymous
1998 Estelle Ellis
1999 Valentine Radford
2000 Mr. & Mrs. Donald Sanders
2001 Julia Irene Kauffman
2002 Mr. & Mrs. Landon Rowland
2003 DeVette Ashley
2004 J. Scott Francis
2005 Mr. and Mrs. W. Anthony Feiock
2006 Rick Poccia / M&I Bank
2007 Vicki Baxter
2008 Wendy Powell
2009 Shirley Helzberg
2010 Dr. and Mrs. Michael D. Frost
2011 Mr. William H. Dunn, Sr.
2012 Sally Wood (in memoriam)
2013 G. Mark Sappington
2014 James Jordon
2015 Barbara Storm
2016 Lisa Merrill Hickok
2017 Elizabeth Hard Simms
2018 Frank Byrne
2019 Sue Ann Fagerberg
2020 Bank of America
2021 Dr. John D. Hunkeler
2022 Barbara Nash
2023 John and Angela Walker
2024 Peggy Beal
2025 Gigi Rose
Nutcracker Ball 2025
The Kansas City Ballet Guild’s 58th annual fundraiser gala was held on December 6 at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. Michele Hamlett-Weith served as the chairman. Suzanne Shank and John Lohmeyer served as the honorary chairmen.
Ron Fredman, Guild President, and David Gray, Kansas City Ballet Executive Director, presented the annual Pirouette Award to Gigi Rose. The Kansas City Ballet Guild proudly presents the Pirouette Award to a person or persons who have contributed extraordinary amounts of time, talent, and energy in a voluntary capacity to benefit the Kansas City Ballet and the performing arts community.
In addition to a cocktail reception, dinner and dancing, benefactors and guests enjoyed a delightful performance from Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney who played Drosselmeier along with company dancers to reenact his infamous opening scene from The Nutcracker. Afterwards, the party goers enjoyed dancing to the music of the Diamond Empire Band.
Photography by Kenny Johnson and Courtney Lane.
