The intriguing mash-up of aerial dance and a steamy fashion presentation brought a Cirque du Soleil vibe to Vault headquarters in the Spring Street warehouse district Saturday night. The sellout fundraiser challenged traditional notions of fashions on the catwalk.
Through several performances choreographed by Amy Ell, 14 Vault dancers, attached to swaths of white fabric, swirled overhead to rock music, their daring acrobatics interspersed with parades of sashaying models in fab leather fashions designed by José Sanchez of Houston and Mexico City. Organizers, including chair Rae Fairfield, aptly dubbed the evening "Light as Air, Aerial Fashion Show."
The sellout fundraiser challenged traditional notions of fashions on the catwalk.
Adding further drama to the presentation were Houston Ballet's Nao Kusuzaki and Zecheng Liang, who modeled Sanchez' styles while performing beautifully seductive dance moves. In one segment, soloist Nao crossed the full length of the runway en pointe, earning huge applause from the appreciative audience.
Guests warmed up for the evening over Hennessy cognac cocktails and lite bites served during the cocktail hour. Moet Hennessy's Rhonda McDonald was in from Dallas for the spectacular event.
Among those giving standing ovations to both the dancers and the designer were French Consul General Sujiro Seam and wife Jane, Luigi Santos, Carmina Zamorano and Rafael Chavez, Theresa Roemer, Beatrice Zarco, Michael Pearce, Lori Freese, Fred Welling, Marie Carmen Montiel, Beth Muecke, Dr. Roland Maldonado and Edward Sanchez, whose Edward Sanchez Cosmetics provided hair and make-up.
Edward Sanchez and Beth Muecke.
