Christie Brinkley arrives at the 2006 Princess Grace Awards gala in New York on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006.

Renowned choreographer Twyla Tharp received the Prince Rainier III Award on Thursday, November 2nd at the Princess Grace Foundation Awards Gala in New York. Presenting Tharp with the award was HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and designer Norma Kamali.

The Princess Grace Foundation, created in memory of the late Princess Grace of Monaco, awards grants to aspiring artists in the performance arts and has awarded over $4 million to more than 400 people in the fields of theater, dance and film since 1984.

Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel's daughter, Alexis Ray Joel, was a special surprise guest performer at the gala, held at Cipriani's 42nd Street.