COLUMBIA − One local organization, COMO 411, brought the popular Netflix series “Bridgerton” to life.
COMO 411 utilizes digital media to showcase the community of Columbia, specifically nonprofits and small businesses.
The organization annually hosts one big event, and this year, Adonica Coleman, founder of COMO 411, wanted the dearest readers of Columbia to be invited to the ball on Oct. 19.
“Bridgerton” is set during the Regency-era in England and focuses members of the Bridgerton family’s attempt to find love. An important part of the culture during that time was to host balls.
Organizers wanted to base the ball specifically to encompass season two of the show, Queen Charlotte’s season, due to its focus on blending cultures and building community.
“We want to get a bunch of different people in one space because I truly believe when people meet each other and talk to each other, it just creates better community,” Coleman said.
The interactive experience that encompasses ball gowns, ballroom dancing and food, is upholding a greater purpose toward the community.
Part of the proceeds raised at the ball will be given to three art-based nonprofits: The WE Project, Mareck Center for Dance and The Missouri Symphony (MOSY).
“I hope people leave saying wow, ‘I learned so much about Mareck, our orchestra MOSY and The WE Project,” Coleman said. “We hope people walk away with new knowledge and make connection with people they wouldn’t normally make.”
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Karen Mareck Grundy, founder of Mareck Center for Dance, explains how the profits they are receiving from the ball weren’t the only driving factor.
“It’s important not just for the fundraising part, but also the exposure,” Mareck Grundy said. “There’s going to be a lot of people who haven’t heard of us and haven’t seen us.”
Mareck Center for Dance was formally known as Missouri Contemporary Ballet. The company changed its name in 2020 to show that they encompass more than just ballet.
“We go with three main things, and that is our company, school and the community,” Mareck Grundy said. “We give back to the community as they have given to us.”
For Trent Rash, executive director of the MOSY, the Bridgerton Ball allowed the symphony to showcase their work. MOSY was founded in 1970 and the mission of the organization is to provide symphonic music and music education to the mid-Missouri area.
“It gives us so much visibility in the community,” Rash said. “We’ve been around for 53 years, but we are still trying to reinvigorate who were are and we are trying to find a younger demographic for what we do.”
Valerie Berta, founder of The WE Project, also believes that this event helped inform the community on the importance of her organization. The WE Project seeks to shift the narrative around marginalized communities through visual representation and storytelling.
“The goal is to amplify The WE Project and get people to know about what the vision is and also get more people to participate plus tell their stories in their own words,” Berta explained.
The event sold around 200 tickets and is now looking to make the Bridgerton Ball an annual event. All three nonprofits can still receive donations via their websites.