Despite rainy weather, Dolphin Ball shines.
By Kim Devore/Staff Writer
The annual Dolphin Ball to benefit cystic fibrosis was splashier than ever and even a steady downpour couldn’t put a damper on the exotic outdoor festivities. Called “Shanghai Surprise,” the bash lived up to its billing with the unexpected arrival of a Malibu monsoon.
Even so, the cheery gathering of guests went about the evening completely unfazed. Elegantly clad in tuxedos and silk mandarin gowns, they took turns holding brightly colored Chinese umbrellas to keep the rain off their feast of sirloin and European greens.
Also unfazed was the gala’s globetrotting, party-giver, Dianette Strange.
“I’m about to leave for Fiji to do the Eco-challenge,” she said, scurrying across the dance floor with towels at her feet. “This is nothing.”
Strange’s Point Dume home took on the flavor of the Forbidden City complete with ceremonial dragons, ancient symbols and towering bamboo. Under the glow of paper lanterns, graceful young dancers from the Malibu Civic Ballet glittered like fairies from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and put on a magical performance. They glided across the wet dance floor in their soggy toe shoes without missing a beat.
The ballet show kicked off a musical extravaganza featuring everything from bagpipes to an aboriginal didgeridoo. In between performances by Richard Page, Julia Holland and Lenny Goldsmith, Jackie Zeman took the stage. “General Hospital’s” daytime diva looked every bit the Beijing beauty as she pitched one-of-a-kind adventures like a trip to Santiago, Chili and a ride along in the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department helicopter.
“This event is very personal to me,” Zeman said. “because it’s friends and neighbors from Malibu coming together to do something out of love and generosity.”
Over the past five years, the Dolphin Ball has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for cystic fibrosis research and treatment. A group of locals, including Zeman and actress Linda Hamilton, organized the first event back in 1997 on behalf of Kayleigh MacGregor. The Malibu youngster was born with cystic fibrosis and had to endure two delicate surgeries as well as intensive physical therapy to combat the disease. That was six years ago, and now Kayleigh is a healthy, happy kindergartner who looks forward to high school and college graduation.
“Chris [Kayleigh’s mother] is a friend of mine and as a member of the community/family, I wanted to do what I could,” Hamilton said of her long-standing involvement in the Dolphin Ball.
There have been great strides in cystic fibrosis research and Kayleigh’s story is a case in point. Forty years ago, she would have had only a slim chance of surviving. Today, thanks to advances in treatment designed to improve lung function and reduce respiratory infection, the median life expectancy for those suffering from cystic fibrosis has risen to more than 30 years. But while there is treatment, there is still no cure.
Once again, the Dolphin Ball helped raise awareness and a good chunk of change for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. As the evening drew to a close, the gang of delightfully damp guests sailed off into the night with memories of a wonderful Asian-inspired evening and with hopes of saying sayonara to CF in the very near future.