Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
Left: Attending the International Proxy Parents Annual Spring Ball are (from left) Cathy Bogg, Lilia and Alejandro Madrigal from the Mexican Embassy, and Assheton Bogg. Right: 5. Enjoying cocktails are (from left) Dorcas Curelli and Ellen and Gernot Papp. - PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
MUSIC, DANCING, fine food and liqueurs were all part of the International Proxy Parents (IPP) Spring Ball.
A familiar event on the social landscape, the Spring Ball is one of the IPP's major fund-raising events as the organisation strives to better the lives of youth. In a change from the norm, the cocktails were held by the Hilton Kingston hotel's lower poolside. Around 8:30 p.m. guests sauntered up the steps to the ballroom where a mint and lavender decor awaited. Centrepieces were attractively arranged chrysanthemums floating on coloured water. A small candle was placed in the middle of each arrangement. The theme for this year's ball was 'Love, Joy And Hope Of Spring'.
IPP president Lawayne Kolbusch spoke of the organisation's efforts last year, where they were able to raise over $1 million. The IPP was able to dispense 90 scholarships, 82 of them to primary and secondary students.
As is a tradition with the IPP ball, a silent
auction got guests frequently out of their seats to check on the items that caught their interest. Works by renowned artists such as Barry Watson and Patsy Mair, electronic gadgets and sparkling jewellery all caught the eye.
BOOGIE TO THE BAND
The resident band (it seems) for the IPP ball is the 50/50 band and they usually thrill audiences with their repertoire. This time, the first strums of the band were to provide backup to cabaret singer DiMario McDowell. He started uptempo with Push Comes to Shove before getting all romantic with selections such as After All Is Said And Done and Unchained Melody. He moved around the audience (as best he could with the corded microphone) serenading the ladies or asking the gentlemen to flex their vocal chords.
But these guests didn't turn up just to hear groovy classics; they like to boogie. And the band acceded to their wishes with dance music which took proceedings to the a.m. hours of Sunday.
