When a gala ends in fist pumping and crowd surfing, you can be pretty sure it was a success. And so was the scene at Wednesday night's Spring Gala for The Kitchen -- New York's performance art mainstay -- who celebrated their 40th anniversary at Capitale. Honoring Philip Glass, the first part of the evening was a civilized, if not nostalgic affair, where guests including artists Robert Longo, Cindy Sherman and Matthew Ritchie, musician David Byrne, actress Ahn Duong, designer Richard Chai, CFDA executive director Steven Kolb and The National's Bryce Dessner dined in the building's glamorous ballroom, while being serenaded by the Vijay Iyer Trio, Tim Fain, Nico Muhly and International Contemporary Ensemble.

Pioneering multidisciplinary experimental musician Meredith Monk recalled meeting Philip Glass for the first time, decades earlier, when he came to her loft as a plumber to install a bathtub. Glass kept his words short but sweet, admitting that his relationship with The Kitchen was the longest one he's ever had and recalled one of his first memories there: "I saw John Cage give a reading and he emptied out the house. Wonderful things were happening."

As dinner commenced, the crowd funneled into the lobby for the after-party hosted by The Smile. The energy picked up immediately, in part from the sugary desserts being circulated , but also from the sounds of DJ JD Samson (Men/Le Tigre). At one point guests broke into a choreographed flash mob, and from that point on, every inch of the dance floor was frenetic -- the perfect ending for a tribute to an institution that has brought its own continuous energy to New York City.

Photos by Stephanie Berger