The 40th annual Poinsettia Ball hosted by the Ballet Women’s Committee will be held on Dec. 29 at Vestavia Country Club. Thirty-one debutantes wearing white gowns and gloves and carrying bouquets of poinsettias will be escorted by their fathers as they are presented. Following the presentation, the ball will begin with a father-daughter waltz, a tradition since the first Poinsettia Ball in 1968.

A highlight of the evening each year is the Benefactors’ Dinner preceding the ball. The dinner, sponsored by the Poinsettia Men’s Committee, features a preview presentation of the debutantes.

Poinsettia debutantes are honored with parties and teas, especially a traditional mother-daughter tea in December, held this year at the home of board chairman Joy Deupree.

Tammy Towns is chairman of the 2008 Poinsettia Ball. Rita Wood will conduct the presentation rehearsal. Melinda Helveston is president of the Ballet Women’s Committee.

The presentation was conceived by Mrs. John Gustafson and is traditionally held the week after Christmas. Mrs. Gustafson believed a debutante ball would be an ideal accent for the holiday season. The first ball was held on Dec. 27, 1968, with Mrs. Louis Prosch Jr. and Mrs. Gustafson serving as chairmen.

The proceeds from the ball, combined with funds already raised by the Ballet Women’s Committee, benefit the Alabama Ballet.

The Alabama Ballet began in 1981 as an outgrowth of the Birmingham Civic Ballet, UAB Ballet and Ballet Alabama.

Under the artistic co-direction of world-renowned dancers Dame Sonia Arova and Thor Sutowski, the company found status and recognition in the ranks of professional companies.
 
In 2005, Tracey Alvey joined the artistic team as ballet mistress. Gia Rabito is executive director of the Alabama Ballet, which will perform “The Nutcracker” Dec. 12-21.