Acrobats, elaborate costumes and carnival fun featured at the 2010 NIDA Foundation Trust Gala on Saturday, August 7, created and executed by NIDA graduates and students.

Eleborate costumes and acrobats set the scene for the 2010 NIDA Foundation Trust Gala

Held at the stunning NIDA Parade Theatre complex, this annual event has developed a reputation for being one of the highlights of the Sydney social calendar.

The 300-strong guest list included NSW Premier Kristina Keneally, Minister for Heritage and Arts Peter Garrett as well as NIDA graduates Miranda Otto, Susie Porter, Hugh Sheridan, Jessica Marais, Ian Stenlake, and Rachael Beck.

The carnival themed event saw popcorn filled vases as centrepieces.

This year’s carnival fun theme was inspired by Legs on the Wall, the Rodney Seaborn Artists-in-Residence at NIDA, a Sydney-based internationally-renowned leader and innovator in physical theatre.

The magnificent kabuki drop curtain revealed the Nancy Fairfax Foyer, where guests dined on a delicious three-course dinner and dessert canapés provided by award-winning caterer Avocado Group, a major sponsor of the evening. The table centrepiece carried on the carnival theme with vases full of popcorn warmed by LED lights.
 

First year students kept guests entertained with hits from Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner and more.

Showcasing extraordinary talent and energy that defines NIDA, the highlights of the evening were a sing-along with the first-year students to Billy Joel’s Piano Man and audience favourite Rockstars, which involved student actors performing as Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, and Little Richard.

The gala event is held annually to raise money for the foundation’s scholarship program. This year funds were also raised to purchase a new concert piano.