About Viennese Balls

Attending a Viennese ball means more than throwing on a dress or suit and heading to the ballroom. Folks need to be well-prepared for such a gala event, knowing everything from the proper dance moves to proper etiquette at such a gathering. A comfortable, quality pair of dance shoes is the number one dress requirement, but there are also others that also need to be heeded.

Function

A Viennese ball may serve several functions. The big, elaborate affair is a time to show off both the best dance moves and the best finery. It is a chance to be seen and hang out with an elite crowd of equally elegant people. Sometimes a ball is held out of tradition, just for fun or as a fundraiser.

Dress Code

The top of the line Viennese ball requires a white tie dress code. This means a black tailed tuxedo for the men and a floor-length ball gown for the women. The black tie ball is more common, which require men in a black dinner jacket and women still in a floor length ball gown. Some balls may require a specialized dress code, such as military wear or costumes, while some may have no dress code at all. People should always make sure that they know what they are expected to wear or they risk not being let in the ball.

Dances

The most common dance performed at the Viennese ball is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the Viennese waltz. The most traditional ball sticks with waltzes and polkas, while a more modern ball may feature a whole range of dance styles. These can include the standard foxtrot and tango as well as a mix of swing, Latin and even pop music dancing. It is also customary to perform a Fledermaus Quadrille, a type of French square dance, usually at midnight and sometimes during the opening ceremony.

Geography

The Viennese ball originated in and is constantly held in Vienna, Austria, but it also pops up all over the globe. Montreal holds an annual Viennese ball, while others are regularly held in Romania, Washington, D.C. and New York City. Smaller cities, too, get into the mix, with balls held in Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Wayne, New Jersey; and Ashland, Oregon.

Considerations

Since the Viennese ball is usually held late in the evening, often around 9 p.m. or later, it is customary for folks to eat several hours before they attend. This ensures that they have the proper energy to dance as well as avoid a stomach ache from having eaten too recently.

Misconceptions

Another proper piece of etiquette for the ball is for the men to go out of their way to make sure every woman is asked to dance. If a man sees a woman being ignored, he is urged to go over and ask for a dance. Likewise, women are expected to accept the invitation. On the ballroom floor, it does not necessarily mean that a man is attracted to a woman when he asks her to dance, or vice versa, but is simply a form of etiquette that is expected to be followed.