Photo Flash: ON OUR TOES Celebrates in the Hamptons

On Our Toes in the Hamptons, the annual performance and fundraising gala featuring Ronald K. Brown's Evidence, A Dance Company one of the world's most acclaimed dance troupes, returned  to the Hamptons for the seventh year to celebrate its 25th anniversary & honor longtime supporters Prince Kunle Omilana of Nigeria & his American born wife Princess Keisha Omilana at the Hamptons estate of The Honorable Bernard H. Jackson and his wife Joyce Mullins-Jackson.
 
Several hundred guests cocktailed poolside at the Jackson's magnificent aerie, savored special Belvedere cocktails and champagne from sponsor Moet-Hennessey and nibbled on hors d'oeuvres from Kyle's of Shelter Island including Crab cakes with chipotle mayonnaise, Vegetable samosas with mango chutney, Argentina beef, Chicken sate with Thai spice, Pork sate with ushanpon Sicilian hot panada pockets, Cajun chicken, mini-mac and cheese and sliders.
 
Drummers called the guest to the enormous tent for a buffet dinner that featured
among many tempting offerings Grilled lamb with feta and tomato; Sundried tomato cones filled with water chestnut and spinach dip and Spinach cones with smoked salmon mousse.
 
Magnificent as the food was, the highlight of the event is always the performance by Brown's amazingly talented dancers. Referencing their recent tour of Africa and the gala honorees, they performed the electrifying "Ebony Magazine: To a Village" which brought the crowd to their feet. Brown & his dancers - Arcell Cabuag, Waldean Nelson, Donovan Herring, Sule Adams, Lilli-Anne Tai, Annique Roberts and Nicholas Anderson took well deserved bows t o thunderous applause. Following this, Brown and the dancers asked the guests to join them on the dance floor.  
 
The afternoon fete continued well beyond its 7pm scheduled end as dancers fueled by endless trays of sweet treats continued to pack the dance floor and get down the hot soundtrack spun by DJ Doug Dickerson and emcee Lamont McCormick of Diversified Sounds.
 
Founded by Ronald K. Brown, Evidence, A Dance Company is rooted in African dance fusing Contemporary, Jazz and Ballet with the rhythms and sounds of the African Diaspora and Caribbean cultures. The annual gala of cocktails, auctions and performance has been long recognized as the premiere African-American cultural and social event of the Hamptons summer calendar drawing an extraordinary list of Hamptons' luminaries.
 
Event Chair was Reginald Van Lee now Chairman Emeritus of the company. Ms. Jackson was elected Chairman earlier this year.
 
 Andrea & Maurice Duboise, Emmy winner Lynn Whitfield, Oracean Price (mother of Venus and Serena Williams), Hon. Bernard & Joyce Jackson, Noel Hankin, Susan Taylor & Khephra Burns, Caron Wheeler, Dwayne Ashley, Gail Monroe Perry, Veronica Claypool, Leslie Mays, Zaid Abdul-Aleem, Dwayne Ashley, Monica F. Azare, Joanne E. Hill, Andrea Hoffman, Jennifer Streaks, BrIan Haynes Copeland, Lisa Walker, Ancy Verdier and Kathleen Vita were among the crowd.

Adding a touch of glamour, luxury firm Hermes displayed & sold the custom scarf created to commemorate Evidence's anniversary and the Committee Co-Chairs all sported jeweled bags courtesy of Judith Lieber.