Paris comes to the North Strand

August 14, 2012 North Myrtle Beach, SC - The fourth annual Loris/Seacoast Healthcare Foundation Ball was held last Saturday at the Hilton – Myrtle Beach. Over three hundred people enjoyed a cocktail reception, live entertainment, dancing to the North Tower Band, a gourmet dinner, and a silent auction. All money raised went to the Foundation to support McLeod Loris and McLeod Seacoast Hospitals.
 
Frank Boulineau, chairman of the Foundation, kicked off the ball, commenting on the accomplishments over the past years and set a challenge by noting that over $100,000 was raised at last year’s ball.  Dick Tinsley Administrator and CEO of MeLeod Loris Healthcare System and McLeod Seacoast Medical Center announced the acquisition of a new state-of-the-art MRI system to be located at Seacoast.  Tinsley said, “It will be more advanced than any other MRI in the area.”
 
“It was a magical night,” said Cathy Altman. “The theme was a Night in Paris and the Ball Committee did everything they could to bring Paris to the North Strand.”
 
Greeting the guests with a complimentary glass of champagne was a Bohemian chic Parisian guiding them to the boulevards of Paris, where they passed shops displaying the latest that Paris has to offer in dresses, jeans, tops, accessories and more. Window displays were on loan from Belk Department Store. Entering the Ball Room, guests eyes were drawn to a fifteen foot tall Eiffel Tower standing amid the tables adorn with white ostrich plumes.  Nineteenth Century style French art posters throughout the room celebrated the theme.
   
Youg Dancers from the Litchfield Dance Arts AcademyBut the hit of the night was the Can-can dancers – young ladies from the Litchfield Dance Arts Academy. Dressed in long skirts, petticoats and black stockings they brought the crowd to their feet cheering while they performed the high kicking and synchronized lifting and manipulation of the traditional Can-can skirts.  These students prepared the pieces that they performed that night in less than a week.  They are all part of the Academy’s dance company and train for at least 20 hours a week. 

The Litchfield Dance Arts Academy (LDAA )is the creation of Ilka Doubek, a professional dancer who performed throughout America and Europe. Doubek opened LDAA over 17 years ago and has trained numerous students who have gone on to pursue professional careers as dancers.
Jhe Russell  
A surprise ballet performance by Jhe Russell greeted the guests during dinner. Russell was visiting in the area and agreed to perform his art at the ball.  He studied at the national ballet school in Canada where he earned his diploma and won the prestigious Erik Bruhn prize in 1999.  His credits include dancing with the Northern Ballet Theatre, The National Ballet of Canada, and the North Carolina Dance Theatre before joining the Swiss ballet company Bejart Ballet Lausanne . Jhe is a well-known teacher and choreographer in the North and South Carolina area.

Additional entertainment was provided by Carolyn Bolton, a graduate of SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities and former instructor for Youth America Grand Prix, the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition; Tia Sanders, former Litchfield Dance Arts Academy student and currently attending The SC Governor’s School ; and The Model, Lida Fox, currently with the Next Model Agency who has worked the runway for designers such as Channel and Marc Jacobs in New York and Europe. 

Susan Platt, Ball Committee Member, designed the Paris theme and arranged for the entertainment.  The hard work of the committee members brought the theme to life working long hours well into the late night.

The silent auction included 70 prize items like a one year membership in the Freedom Boat Club, original oil paintings, shopping trips, spa getaways, golf packages, a family portrait by Angela Fellenz, a one year social membership in the Surf Club and much more.  Two silent auction items drew the biggest attention – a cruise to the Bahamas and a quail hunting trip in South America for four.  Reeds Jewelers donated a ½ carat diamond that raised significant money for the Foundation.  Angela Fellenz Photography provided staff and equipment to provide souvenir photographs to attendees and generously donated all proceeds to the Foundation.
 
The Loris/Seacoast Healthcare Foundation supports facilities, programs, equipment and projects that help provide quality healthcare in the North Strand community.  The money raised this year will aid in providing much needed furniture and fixtures for the 88 bed Extended Care Center in Loris.
 
The Loris Seacoast Healthcare Foundation Ball is organized by a committee with members from North Myrtle Beach, Loris, Little River, Calabash and Tabor City communities. Pictured is the 2012 Loris/Seacoast Healthcare Foundation Ball Committee.  The co-chairs are Rima Hulen and Jeri McDowell. Kelly Hughes is the Foundation Executive Director.

L-R Top row – Joyce Thomas, Carol Pennings, Jane Harvey, AnnElliott, Callie Wise, Hazel Teal, Heather Smith, Leslie Elliott, Michelle Love, Kendall Khoury. Mid row – Jeri McDowell, Kelly Hughes. Seated – Charlene Lyman and Rima Hulen. Not pictured Lynda Hardee, Carla Shaw and Diane Bast.

Founded in 1950, McLeod Loris is a facility with 105 beds. McLeod Seacoast opened in 2000 and began providing inpatient care as a 50-bed hospital in 2011.