Power Ball 2016: 63 photos from inside Toronto’s coolest art party

by Elio Iannacci June 3, 2016

It’s hard to live up to the fierceness of Janet Jackson’s classic track, “The Pleasure Principle,” but this year’s Power Ball—named after the song—managed to match some of JJ’s magic. Dance mastermind Ryan McNamara took on the role of the party’s artist-in-residence and yaaas queens, he did not disappoint. While the mojito and sparkling wine-sipping Power Ballers mingled about, McNamara had his 25 dancers touch, tantalize and wind themselves around various attendees, and kept the crowd riled up and curious.

The act was set up as a physical mixtape of sorts and McNamara’s troop boasted a work that was part choreography, part performance art and all heat. Dancer Brandon Washington‘s silky saunters across the floor and slithering vocab of gestures stopped conversations mid-sentence.The night’s title sponsor, Max Mara, projected Fall 2016 runway throughout the party alongside an original piece by contemporary ballet dancer Javon Jones.

A full cast of fashionable folk kicked the glam factor up a few notches, including actresses Tara Spencer-Nairn (who showed up in a glossy white Narces dress) and Sarah Gadon (who represented in a sexy Lucian Matis number), Physician Parambir Keila (suited in Alexander McQueen) and Max Mara’s U.S. retail director Maria Giulia Marramotti (who wore a sleek jumpsuit from Max Mara’s pre-Fall collection).

Sticking to a serious super-ladies-of-the-80s theme park vibe, the decor—replete with walls of giant coloured lips and Romy and Michelle-style streamers—gave the place a Cyndi Lauper-ian air. Artist Karen Tam created her Opium Den, an installation piece which included wooden cut-out screens and bronze lanterns, aimed to challenge viewers on their perceptions of Chinese culture. It wouldn’t be a Power Ball without a couple of special attractions/distractions around dance floor and this year, there was no shortage. A slab cake was suddenly attacked with a large hatchet knife (art or a hungry patron?) and a seating area completely devoted to inflatable sea creatures was on hand for those taking a break as the legendary house DJ Mark Farina served the sound system with some premium diva vocals.

Browse the gallery below to see all the pics from Power Ball 2016!