It may be celebrating its 40th anniversary season, but there's nothing stodgy about the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre or its Pointe in Time Ball. After many nights at the Nutcracker, it was time to refresh the annual gala and put a different spin on the evening. That happened several years ago, when executive director Harris Ferris took the reins. But Saturday the event reached maturity, helped by a new venue (the Pittsburgh Hilton ballroom), party pro Bonnie Walker (who transformed it into a glowing Tiffany jewel box), irresistible music (Gary Racan and the studio-e Band) and a crowd that refused to stay seated.

The young dancers energized the party after a brief performance before dinner, always a great reminder of how fortunate we are to have a ballet company. Dinner was hearty and delicious (smoked duck, tropical salsa terrine, filet mignon and a medley of desserts topped with a dunce's cap!), but the best idea was the very cool lighted bars that stayed open for business late into the night. Meg and Robert Eberly III chaired the gala, with Jim Roddey always a pleasure on auction duty. The 400 guests helped to raise $300,000 for PBT.

First Published: October 27, 2009, 3:00 p.m.