Upbeat Keeps Them on Their Toes at the "Bolero Ball" Gala Benefit

On Saturday, April 29 at The Ballroom at Church Street, the Friends of Orlando Ballet presented their second annual fundraiser Black Tie Gala, the Bolero Ball, with entertainment provided by Upbeat.

Upbeat was up to the task of keeping a group of professional dancers and dance enthusiasts on their toes the entire night. One attendee, Wes Hoaglund, observed that, "I can't remember the last time I felt compelled to dance that much in a single evening. The band was just so much fun that you wanted to be a part of the joyous art that they were creating." Upbeat entertained the crowd with everything from lighter tunes over dinner to high-energy party music to get the audience on its feet.

Upbeat's unique musical stylings included bossa nova, smooth jazz, and even a few Latin rock tunes. These and many other hits from the past decades kept the crowd of over 100 attendees dancing and having a great time the whole night.

Friends of Orlando Ballet President Lucy Garman commented, "as President of FOB at the time of Bolero Ball, I was privy to many comments made by guests regarding the event. Everyone really enjoyed themselves, and the atmosphere was significantly set by the lively music provided by a very talented band, Upbeat! I wish everyone could have seen the professional dancers from Orlando Ballet Company 'cutting a rug' until the wee hours - they had a blast, along with all the other guests."

There is no doubt that the beautiful evening, a delicious gourmet dinner, a wonderful performance by Orlando Ballet dancers, and dancing to the band Upbeat were all keys to the success of this year's Bolero Ball.

The Friends of Orlando Ballet is a volunteer organization that has been created to assist the Orlando Ballet with fundraising efforts and to provide support to the company and staff. Visit the Orlando Ballet website at orlandoballet.org.