There’s a comforting predictability to the routine preceding every Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Presentation Ball at Dallas’ Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.
And so it was, again, with the 39th Annual Presentation Ball on Saturday, February 15.
Well before the formal Ball begins, the symphony debutantes and members of their Honor Guard gather in the Meyerson lobby.
There, proud families — Terrence Chavis with his deb daughter Elle Chavis, for example, Carolyn and Paul Goelzer with their deb twins Elizabeth Goelzer and Sophie Goelzer — pose on the lobby steps for iPhone snaps and portraits by the event photographer (this year, it was Gittings). Hairdos and cummerbunds undergo last-minute adjustments before the young women and their guardsmen assemble for the group photos.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra League President Dixey Arterburn and Ball Co-Chairs Barbara Averitt and Ginger Sager watched the familiar scene unfold once again for the 39th Ball, each of them resplendent in borrowed jewelry from Eiseman.
“We need a security guard to walk around with us!” Barbara joked.
Then, right on cue, all three took their places in front of the 44 debs as a Gittings photographer looked down from a giant ladder.
“One … two … three!” he called out, before taking a photo.
Another instruction came next: “Everybody stop, and look up!” All eyes sought out the Meyerson’s tall ceiling for a second pose.
And finally: “This time, raise your hands while looking up!”
Not far away, meantime, lavish dinner tables had been set out beautifully for the Ball’s more than 1,100 guests: blue tablecloths, white napkins, bouquets of roses and hydrangeas in red, blue and pink.
But just now dinner — poached pears salad, grilled filet mignon, chocolate tart or white cake — was a long ways off.
As the debs, their folks and escorts went backstage to rehearse their bows, nibble on snacks and relax, guests gathered in the lower lobby for a cocktail reception that would loosen everyone up for the lengthy Presentation itself in the Eugene McDermott Concert Hall.
One of them was Suzanne McWhorter, who came floating down the staircase in a colorful Carolina Herrera gown.
Among those spotted filing into the hall for the 81-minute Presentation were Shannon Graham, Kit Sawer, Janie and David Condon, Dennis Cail, and Laura and Jason Downing.
Shirley and Bill McIntyre were introduced as the ball’s honorary chairs, and Stan Gardner served once again as the evening’s emcee.
Following a greeting by Dixey, Ginger and Barbara, a tip of the hat to the committee and the presentation of the Dallas Assembly and Honor Guard officers, the deb Presentation got underway, with most of them executing almost perfect bows.
Alas, one did falter when she bowed with the bouquet in the wrong hand. The result was her escort offering his hand, only to be greeted by a fistful of flowers. Not to worry. The couple showed their stuff by recovering with hardly anyone noticing.
Later, there was dancing in the lobby to the Jordan Kahn orchestra. As usual the traditional father-daughter dance kicked things off, with Mitchell Ward and Samantha Ward, James Petrikas and Caroline Petrikas and David Lancashire and Brooke Barnes showing off some especially fancy moves.
The entire evening was to benefit the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Education and Community Outreach Programs.
This year, those DSOL-supported programs included Young Strings, the Cecil and Ida Green Youth Concerts, the Lynn Harrell Concerto Competition, Symphony Yes! and the Kim Noltemy Young Musicians Program.
The DSOL has given more than $17 million for the education and outreach programs so far.
For a look or two — or more than 80, actually — at the debs, escorts and guests, check out the MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.
The post The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League’s 2025 Presentation Ball Boasted Proud Families, Perfect Bows And Some Fancy Dance Moves appeared first on My Sweet Charity.