Salt Lake City-On Saturday night, the Masonic Temple in Downtown Salt Lake City came alive with all the lovers and the supporters of the arts in Utah as the Utah Arts Alliance held their annual fundraiser and wildest party in the business. As I had the opportunity to interview executive director Derek last week about all the wonderful things that the fundraiser is providing and the Utah Arts Alliance does for the community, and thanks to the Utah Arts Alliance, I was able to attend the event and see what a donation in the form of a ticket would provide an attendee.
The first thing that I realized when attending was while I have before seen the inside of the temple because of organizations having their performances held there, I had never really SEEN the inside of the temple. With the way the SLC White Party is set up, I had the opportunity to explore the building, seeing beautiful lobbies, architecture, the Egyptian room, and the main Auditorium with all of its interesting elements and symbolism. Added to all of that was the décor and ambiance brought by the Utah Arts Alliance, which was an experience unlike anything I had witnessed before.
First, I will say that I am a 46-year-old woman, so I fully admit that this was probably not completely my scene. I had a great time, do not get me wrong. But I was a little bit out of my shell and comfort zone of on my couch or comfortably in my anonymous audience chair. The SLC White Party is a much more interactive and getting you to be a part of the process. Everyone is invited to wear white and gold, and participate in the theme. This years theme was a voyage through time, and so everyone at the party was dressed up in white outfits ranging from just plain white clothes to dresses from ancient Egypt to the Victorian Era. I am so glad I was able to push myself into the new experience, and gain the joy of experiencing a new event.
On top of the donation required to buy a ticket to get in, which ranged from general admission to VIP, there were cocktails and mocktails at an additional cost. People were enjoying their drinks and also enjoying the entertainment in each room. Small spots of entertainers, from acts of magic and music, DJs in each room, dancers, and aerial dancers and silks dancers at the main stage were all there. Each room also had smoke machines, lighting for added mood, and ample decoration. The mood was very jovial. There were several VIP rooms that seemed to have food and other options for those who had made even more donations. It did not seem to matter if you were VIP or not, everyone was having a great time.
One of my favorite experiences was the Silent Disco, where everyone is given a headphone set as you walk in the room, and the DJ is playing the music to the headphones. It was a bit of a new sensory experience, and I found it a fascinating way to experience the music in a whole new way. People can change the volume to a level that is comfortable for them, and that is very beneficial for many. It was a big contrast from the other rooms, and while noise levels are really no issue for me, I can see how it may be an issue for many. Having the option of a silent disco was a fantastic addition to the party.
It is always a good thing to support the arts. That is the main reason we exist as Utah Theatre Bloggers. With the SLC White Party, it is an opportunity to get out and really let yourself enjoy the company of fellow artists in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. If it is not the event for you, there are always many more ways for you to participate and support the Utah Arts Alliance.
[box] The Utah Arts Alliance-For ways to volunteer or participate with the Utah Arts Alliance, visit https://utaharts.org/en/.[/box] 