Ball (dance)

A (dance) Ball - also called Eight Ball (due to the time at which it takes place ) or Dance Festival - is an upscale, festive social dance, usually for a select audience. Previously, he was an important element of the marriage market for upscale society. Young women came to debutante balls the first time as adults, marriageable people. Today balls are used among other things for the purpose of seeing and being seen.

However, now called many simple dance events in the " fifth season " also ball Apart from such carnival balls which - as is common with other balls - be visited in evening wear, so-called costume balls are often held, wearing a costume is mandatory for their visit to the rule. In Austria there are for such events the term Gschnas.

History

In German-speaking countries a dance was first called Dantz. Only in the 18th century, the word ball, scheduled for a public Tanzlustbarkeit by. This was taken from the French in the 17th century. The local word bal is a derivative of the verb baller ( dance ), which even on the late Latin ballare ( dance, hop ) back.

Historically found a ball held in a ballroom. Stately homes often had such a private dance house. ( Not to be confused, this is with the ball home, was played in the ball. The term " ball " in the meaning " plaything " is also etymologically unrelated to ballare. )

As the capital of the ball shall Vienna today. Annually found in the Austrian capital over 400 balls take place with more than 200 visitors. ( "Overall, an estimated 300,000 visitors are swinging on Viennese balls on the dance floor. " )

In addition to the well-known large balls numerous schools, professional groups, various clubs and social organizations as well as individual city districts organized each year, own balls. Thus, to find " the Floridsdorfer water rescue ball " as the official calendar Viennese Ball "Ball of religion teachers " and the. Likewise, there is a " homeless Ball ", an " asylum seekers Ball" and a " ball of red carnations ." The " Life Ball " shows that today the term " ball " a little further than is taken in the traditional sense. Event frame and soft clothing just in the latter from under the event of motivation to standard practice. In Germany, for example, corresponds to the ball of the stars of this broader significance of ball In general, however, all the balls in common is that it is an annual celebratory event for which you do not appear in everyday clothes; one often prepares elaborate it before and attended the ball with intent safe to dance.

Time

A ball will be held in the evenings. A garden party, which is to go into a ball in the garden, can already start at 17 or 18 clock clock with a little refreshment. A ball with buffet typically begins around 20 clock. The exact start time is not precisely defined and depends on the season ( rather festive mood after sunset ) and also from the event up. Thus, the start time of a wedding ball is often coordinated with the other dates of the ceremony and the subsequent travel plans of the couple.

The Austrian Ball Season is the carnival from November until Shrove Tuesday. In this period most balls take place, crowded even on New Year's Eve and after the Epiphany on January 6. Especially in this core time passes in the Vienna ball season hardly a day goes by without at least one ball takes place somewhere in the city.

Invitation

Depending on the social status of the occasion invitations are designed differently. A traditional Firemen's Ball a village about invites usually by means of a poster and newspaper advertisements. Often at upscale events on handmade paper - For a more noble flair Balls include a personal written invitation usually by means of a printed invitation cards.

Large social balls as the Vienna Opera Ball, or the Frankfurt Opera Ball have complicated invitation formalities. Especially prominent personalities (1A celebrities, real VIPs ) are often paid for their participation in high-level events to give the shine ball. The A- prominence associated persons are requested for the purpose of enhancing the event formally to their participation, without them a cost. Celebrity one has often together with a polite pseudo - invitation cards for sale. Non- celebrities can with generous donations as possible to the device itself, " shopping ", which aims to support the ball. Often such a donation over the years has to be done several times before you get a pseudo - invitation and usually limited to two pieces of card offer. Relationships can be crucial, which is not considered dishonorable in this context here. Because good social relations point to a corresponding position in society, their consolidation and improvement is a goal such elitist balls. Sponsors of such events also receive a ticket quota and assign it according to its own criteria, for example to good business partner.

A written invitation is usually within two to three weeks before the date ball and has, in addition to the event also highlighted the desired clothing.

Clothing

The ball invitation usually quoted for men in the ascending order of the required " plaster ":

The first two points are to be understood literally. " Formal Dress " means tuxedo or tailcoat in uniform beams, the ( Gala ) uniform. A suit in such cases is absolutely undesirable. If present, the corresponding orders and medals are worn.

The degree of required " plaster " for the ladies can be derived from the data for the men and from the event. Thus, in a private summer ball, is required with the dark suit for the Lord, for the lady enough a lightweight, long summer dress. In formal dress, however it is a noble, floor-length ball gown. Jewelry Likewise, if any, carried. Celebrities appear quite on with borrowed jewelry or clothes and displays them on behalf of the owner or manufacturer.

Expiration

Guests are welcomed to the occasion with a drink. The exact further sequence of a ball depends on shape and occasion. Is there a buffet, it opens about 23:30 clock. For a more festive ball, it may instead enter at the beginning of the ball a so-called ball - supper: a well maintained, late dinner at festively decorated tables.

When a ball is the core of the dance event. That time couples are rather undesirable but is regarded as a courtesy rule. For large balls stroll, seeing and being seen are at least as important.

The basic rule is that when closed society balls, each person dancing with each other. The host couple, the wedding couple, the newcomers or to certain celebrities opened or open the ball with the first dance. As a guest you can dance first with the partner with whom you came or the allotted table Lord's table and the lady. In a small ball, the hostess is asked for the second dance, when it is clear from the situation.

In many balls called midnight deposits are common. It is an interruption of the ball flow in the form of special performances for the general public. Today screenings are a dance school, a magic show, a ballet deposit or an exotic contrast a samba show and the like consistently. The midnight show is meant in its form as a surprise for the guests.

When balls with raffle then draw the prizes will take place.

Special ball shapes

Many young people visit over a period of time once a week a dance class, so take lessons in ballroom dancing. At the end of the course there is a festive Abtanzball ( in Germany often including prom and final ball called ), to which the parents are loaded and in which the learning is applied and shown. Man appears in festive clothing. Often part of the event was also a polonaise or a dance game. But at other dance classes, in which a particular program is learned to dance, a Abtanzball can belong. Before the prom in some places there is a middle ball. The middle ball is intended as a dress rehearsal of the dance course for the prom (Final Dance ).

A prom is held at the conclusion of a school education or higher education. In the year of the baccalaureate (or in Austria and Switzerland, the Matura) the Prom, in Austria the Maturaball and in Switzerland the Matura ball is in Germany ( colloquially ) visited. In Austria, the ball takes place almost exclusively before the school leaving examination in the ball season. At universities there is a pillow ball as an annual event.

Known balls

• Doctors Ball ( Vienna)
• Ball of Pharmacy (Vienna)
• Ball of the Duchess of Richmond ( historical event, Brussels)
• Officers' Ball (Vienna)
• Ball der Stadt Wien (Vienna)
• Wine Ball (Wiesbaden)
• Ball of the Viennese Coffee House Owners (Vienna)
• Vienna Philharmonic Ball (Vienna)
• BonbonBall (Vienna)
• Berlin Press Ball
• Federal Press Ball ( Berlin)
• Concordia Ball ( Vienna)
• Ladies Club (Münster)
• Dancer against Cancer (Vienna)
• German Opera Ball (Frankfurt)
• German Sportpresseball
• Dresden Opera Ball ( Semper Opera Ball)
• Elmayer - wreath (Vienna)
• Fete Imperiale (Vienna)
• Graz Opera Redoute (Graz)
• Hofburg Gala of the Viennese economy (Vienna)
• Hat Ball (Dresden)
• Hunters' Ball (Vienna)
• Lawyer's Ball (Vienna)
• Imperial Ball (Vienna)
• KLJB -Ball ( Bethen )
• Life Ball (Vienna)
• Polyball ( Zurich )
• Rudolfina Redoute (Vienna)
• Viennese Opera Ball (Vienna)
• WKR -Ball ( Vienna)
• Confectioners Ball ( Vienna)