With the opening of Houston Ballet's $53 million Center for Dance less than two months away, there were beaucoup reasons to celebrate at Saturday night's Ballet Ball. Consider the sell-out crowd of 470 very glamorous guests, the handsome proceeds of $754,000 and the much-beloved honorees Rose and Harry Cullen.

Kudos to ball chairs Jo and Jim Furr. He just happens to be managing principal of Gensler, which did the design for the new center. And how appropriate the theme: "Designed to Dance."

For this evening, the Grand Foyer of Wortham Theater Center reflected ballet sensibilities from the duo of polished aluminum dancers on each of the 47 tabletops (the female dancer perpetually twirling on her pedestal) to the bold ballet images and colored blocks suspended on the soaring side walls. The Events Co. created the panorama where roses (a nod to the honoree) of different colors surrounded the statues and where the side walls reflected the mosaics which line the skybridge that connects the new building to Wortham Center.

But really, who needed an elaborate decor with the stunning display of high fashion that swirled through the party space. It would be difficult to say who was more stunning — Lynn Wyatt in shimmering black Chanel or Diane Lokey Farb in crystal-infused black gown by Valentino. Then there was Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein in stunning Naeem Khan, Becca Cason Thrash smashing in black Ralph Rucci, Patti Murphy in pink Carolina Herrera, Pat Breen in Oscar de la Renta, Linda McReynolds in lovely Monique Lhuillier, Sue Smith in Ralph Lauren, Donna Bruni in Reem Acra and on and on.

Savoring the dinner by Jackson & Co. was a heavy-hitter group that included Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Kathy and Jodie McCord, Margaret Williams and Jim Daniel, Susie and Sanford Criner, Molly and Jim Crownover, Isla and Tommy Reckling, Cabrina and Steven Owsley and Hattie Parker and Aaron Ball.

Of course, the ballet family was on hand including creative director Stanton Welch, managing director C.C. Conner, ballet master Philip Broomhead and partner Trey Gillen, principal dancer Melody Herrera, Aria Alexander with her non-dancing date Adrian Turnham, Jessica Collado and Joseph Walsh.