Life is full of surprises as chairman Donald Kramer discovered during the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda’s annual fundraising gala at the Fairmont Southampton Resort on Saturday evening.The first was the announcement by vice chairman Brian O’Hara that the black-tie event was, in fact, ‘An Evening for Don Kramer’, and would be a tribute honouring his contribution to dance in Bermuda.The second was the presentation of two very generous gifts to the NDFB in Mr Kramer’s honour, made by representatives of the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) of which he is the newly-appointed chairman and Ariel Re, Bermuda reinsurers and supporters of the NDFB.On behalf of ABT, director Kevin McKenzie and executive director Rachel Moore presented ten scholarships which will enable Bermuda dance teachers to study for accreditation through its acclaimed teacher training programme at ABT’s New York studios.“Being a teacher of excellence in the 21st century demands not only that one understands the best practices of dance pedagogy, but also of dancer health management as well,” Ms Moore said. “An added benefit of certification is that teachers join a large and international community of like-minded professionals.”As supporters of the NDFB for the past five years, CEO Tom Hulst announced that Ariel Re would donate a total of $100,000 over the next two years.In presenting the first $50,000 cheque to Mr O’Hara, he said, “We know that the current economy is tough on everyone, but it’s particularly hard on the Island’s charities, and we would like to make (your) job as development committee chairman a little easier.”Mr Kramer founded Ariel Re in 2005, and stepped down as chairman in December, 2010. In addition to supporting the NDFB for five years, the reinsurers have also donated office space.“We believe the organisation is making a positive difference in the lives of Bermuda’s young people,” Mr Hulst said.It is probably not often that Mr Kramer, an internationally respected insurance expert and accomplished speaker, is left speechless, but as these and other surprises unfolded, he surely was.Former galas were held in the Fairmont’s cavernous Mid Ocean Amphitheatre, but this year guests tucked into a fine four-course dinner with wines in the Poinciana Ballroom a much warmer and more intimate setting, to which soft candlelight, glittering chandeliers, and tiny points of light on the stage curtain and in the purple-themed floral table arrangements, contributed their own magic.Heading the large guest list were Governor Sir Richard Gozney and Lady Gozney, Premier Paula Cox, US Consul General Grace Shelton, and Attorney General Michael Scott.Others included the ABT’s Brian Reeder, artistic director of DanceBermuda, and members of the Island’s international, local business, and performing arts communities.Speeches throughout the evening were mercifully short, while surprise video-taped tributes to Mr Kramer came from NDFB board member and Academy Award-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Nigel Lythgoe, co-producer of the hit TV series, ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and ‘American Idol’.Ms Zeta-Jones acknowledged “the profound difference” Mr Kramer had made in the lives Bermuda’s young people through his leadership of the NDFB in giving them a world-class experience.“I am proud to be a member of the board, proud of all that you and my fellow board members have done for Bermuda, and proud to call you not only a valued colleague but also a dear friend. I love you,” she concluded, blowing him a kiss.With a nod to the chairman’s love of performing, Mr Lythgoe said that if Mr Kramer was interested in auditioning for ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, he would happily remove the age requirement. As befits a dance foundation gala, the entertainment also included on-stage presentations of ballet and modern dance excerpts, all of which were beautifully performed.Local participants in last year’s NDFB summer intensive, DanceBermuda, proudly presented ‘Aurora’s Friends’ from Act 1 of ‘The Sleeping Beauty’, and ‘Between the Light and Me’. ABT soloist Misty Copeland performed ‘Gulnare Third Act Variation’ from ‘Le Corsaire’ and then joined her fellow ABT soloist Sascha Radetsky in ‘Sinatra Suite’, which included excerpts from Twyla Tharp’s hit Broadway production, ‘Come Fly Away’.The final surprise tribute of the night came in the form of a nifty tongue-in-cheek performance of ‘One’ from ‘A Chorus Line’ by former dancers and current NDFB board members Cathy Aicardi, Sophia Cannonier, Penny Cox, Vanessa Hardy, Sal Hodgson and Sonja Salmon.In a spontaneous gesture of appreciation, the deeply touched Mr Kramer mounted the stage to waltz briefly with and thank each participant individually.“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he told his audience.And indeed it was.