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VISION QUEST: Seva Canada is a Vancouver-based organization whose mission is to restore sight and prevent blindness in the developing world. Focusing on sustainable, community-driven projects that reach the most underserved and remote populations, Seva connects people to high-quality eye care, from eye drops and glasses to cataract surgeries. Seva currently operates its mobile eye care units in 13 countries. The organization, led by executive director Penny Lyons, was the beneficiary of Kendra Sprinkling’s 14th Motown Meltdown charity concert at the Commodore Ballroom. Local musicians and artists once again took attendees on a grand tour of Motown to help Seva reach places like Nepal, Cambodia and Tanzania.

Twenty-eight musical talents, backed by a 12-piece band, brought their own soulful styles and flavours to a Motown classic, getting a capacity crowd moving and a groo vin’ on the Commodore’ s iconic dance

floor. Vanhattan mainstays Tom Pickett, Candus Churchill and Don Stewart were among the star-studded roster performing gold standards such as The O’Jays’ Love Train and The Temptations’ Papa

Was A Rolling Stone. But it was Garfield Wilson’s soulful tribute to Michael Jackson that really raised the roof. A reported $40,000 was raised from the musical jamboree, which Seva marketing director

Deanne Berman says will gift the power of sight to more than 300 people.

PAS DE DEUX: It didn’t seem that long ago that Ballet B.C. was on the brink of bankruptcy, laying off dancers and staff. Seven years later, under the artistic tutelage of Emily Molnar and executive director Branislav Henselmann, the contemporary dance company has drawn a new legion of support and looks to be on solid footing. By way of proof, the company’s annual spring fundraising campaign is poised to surpass its $500,000 goal for the second consecutive year.

Molnar is also attracting the attention of the world’s top choreographers, including French talent Medhi Walerski. Walerski’s works Prelude and Natus — the latter his first full-length work commissioned to mark the company’s 30th anniversary — was part of Program 2, which was staged recently at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Both pieces were a feast for the senses, with the beautifully danced ensemble scenes made even more grand by the sheer number of performers on the stage.

Ballet B.C.’s dozen dancers were joined by 15 artists from Arts Umbrella’s Dance Program — the result of an alliance formed last year in which both organizations share resources and visiting choreographers. The partnership aims to strengthen B.C.’s dance community and solidify Vanhattan as a launching pad for budding careers. Academy grad Livona Ellis, now in her sixth season with Ballet B.C., is a prime example. Watching proudly was incoming Arts Umbrella executive director Paul Larocque.

DESIGNER DINNER: It’s not too often that Louis Vuitton closes its doors for an evening of food and drink — once a year in fact. Leave it to Nathan Fong, founding chair of the Dr. Peter Centre’s Passions Gala, to organize the one-ofa-kind fundraising dinner at the French fashion house’s flagship store in Vancouver. The food stylist and writer turned to leading chef Chris

Whittaker, the culinary mastermind behind Forage and Timber, and Myer Family Vineyards winemaker Chris Carson to curate the exclusive five-course royal repast in Louis Vuitton’s “Maison,” comprising two salons and reception area on the second floor of the designer showroom.

The night of fine food and fashion in support of the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation — which specializes in providing care for people living with HIV — brought out some of Vanhattan’s most stylish women, including Concert Properties’ Kate

Sunderland Ratzlaff, Enbridge’s Katherine Coutinho, Merck’s Norma Sebastyen, Telus’s Emily Hamer and Dr. Peter Foundation’s Jennifer Davies. Public relations executive Joy Jennisen and communications consultant Susan Bruckner purchased the designer dinner at auction, paying nearly 10 times the price tag of some purses and pumps in the designer store.

Singers Tom Pickett and Candus Churchill were among a host of local artists and musicians who performed at the 14th annual Motown Meltdown at the Commodore Ballroom.

The father-daughter-team of David and Olivia Steele brought their own soulful style of a Motown classic to the Seva Canada fundraiser.

Dave Wills and Angela Kelman served as masters of ceremonies at Motown Meltdown, a concert aimed at raising funds to restore sight and prevent blindness in the developing world.

Seva Canada — represented by board chair Nancy Mortifee, left, and marketing director Deanne Berman — was the beneficiary of the yearly Motown Meltdown concert.

From left, Jane Mortifee, Garfield Wilson and Kendra Sprinkling were all smiles after $40,000 was reportedly raised from their night of Motown music and dancing in support of sight.

From left, Arts Umbrella dance students Kyle Clarke, Madison Webber and Zander Constant performed alongside Ballet B.C. dancers. The arts organizations have joined forces to share resources and visiting choreographers.

Artistic director Emily Molnar and Ballet B.C. dancer Peter Smida are part of the contemporary dance company’s turnaround. Its 2016 fundraising campaign is poised to surpass half a million dollars.

Executive directors Branislav Henselmann of Ballet B.C., left, and Paul Larocque of Arts Umbrella witnessed the impact of their new alliance as 15 Arts Umbrella grads performed alongside Ballet B.C. dancers in works by Medhi Walerski.

Nathan Fong, founding chair of the Dr. Peter Centre’s Passions Gala, organized the special dinner at Louis Vuitton’s flagship Vancouver store.

Communications consultant Susan Bruckner, left, and public relations executive Joy Jennisen purchased and hosted the designer dinner of food and fashion in support of the Dr. Peter Centre.