18 to be presented Saturday at Bal Blanc de Noël
- Share via
Eighteen local young women will gather with families and friends in a Los Angeles ballroom Saturday evening to take part in a longstanding tradition, the 68th annual Bal Blanc de Noël sponsored by the La Cañada Thursday Club.
Dressed in white ball gowns, the members of this year’s class of Les Fleurettes provisionals will each take her bow to society after being introduced by La Cañada Flintridge Mayor Leonard Pieroni to those assembled for the gala at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. After then receiving a camellia charm from Sheri Morton, a past Thursday Club president, the debutante will twirl around the dance floor on the arms of her father for the traditional “first waltz.”
The ball’s history dates back to 1951 and has annually drawn varying numbers of participants who undertake a 16-month program of personal development training, etiquette lessons and service to others, often with their mothers at their sides.
Yvonne Marchosky, who has been deeply involved in the Les Fleurettes program for five years, said Tuesday that this year’s debs are “quite diverse” in their interests.
“We have athletes, cheerleaders and scientists,” she said, attributing the mix to the sheer number of girls participating this year.
Having completed their training and ready to take their bows this year are high school seniors Simone Badaruddin, Melody Bagheri, Allison Budde, Gabriella Connell, Paige Cooper, Siena Dancsecs, Tara Donaghy, Lillian Dunbar, Tatum Heiberg, Josie Hull, Rachel Hwang, Jessica Jewell, Lana Kayali, Emmie Lew, Sarina Mata, Madison Jennifer Miller, Madison Norton and Audrey Raulli.
Marchosky noted that for the first time in her memory there is a disabled participant, the lively Josie Hull, who was a head-conjoined twin at birth. While Josie’s sister, Teresa, plans to attend the ball, it will be to cheer her sister on, Marchosky said.
Josie Hull founded Once Upon a Room, a charitable organization whose goal is to brighten stays at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She and her friend Siena Dancsecs created the Junior Room Crew that facilitates teen events for CHLA patients. This effort drew assistance from their fellow Les Fleurettes who visited the facility. It was a small departure from the usual offerings during the 16-month program, but was well-received by the participants, Marchosky said.
Several Thursday Club members lend a hand in shepherding the program. Serving with Marchosky as this year’s co-chair of the debutante program and the black-tie ball is Ani Derhartounian; pageantry co-chairs are Alison McQuay and Jeanie Kay; publicity chair is Jody Platisa.
— Valley Sun staff