1. Alles Walzer!
Ball Season in Vienna
By Thérèse A. Schoen, owner of Mythic World Tours, Inc.
This was the impression of one visitor to Vienna in the 19th Century.
What makes Vienna stand out among other cities that boast great
orchestras and host grand balls? A combination of history, tradition, over-
the-top ball venues, a musical tradition that few other cities can offer
and an attachment to an imperial past that many consider romantic,
all contributed to Vienna’s special position as the music capital of the
world. Even before the Waltz King, Johann Strauss, made music history,
Vienna was a centre of music and culture.
Emperor Joseph II (1741-1790), eldest son of Empress Maria Theresia
and brother of Marie Antoinette, was unusual for a royal. In 1773, he
started the tradition of public balls in Vienna when he decided that the
ballrooms in the winter palace, the Hofburg, should be made available
for public balls for the common man as well as for the nobility. The waltz is
now generally considered an elitist dance, but it was Joseph II’s decision
that introduced the waltz – the commoners’ dance – to the nobility.
“I do verily believe, that if but the first draw of Strauss’ or Lanner’s
fiddle-bow was heard on any street or marketplace in Vienna in
any weather or season, or at any hour of the day or night, all living,
breathing nature within earshot would commence to turn: the
coachman would leap from his carriage, the laundress would desert
her basket, and all - peeresses and prelates, priests and professors,
soldiers and shopkeepers, waiters and washerwomen, Turks, Jews
and gentiles -would simultaneously rush into one another’s arms
and waltz themselves to jelly!”1
1. “The Others’ Austria”, Vol. 1, published by www.ariadnebooks.com presents essays and letters by
English and American visitors to Austria from 1814 to 1914
2. Winter Balls
in Vienna
The winter ball season extends from Silvester
(New Year’s Eve) to Faschingsdienstag
(Shrove Tuesday). More than 150 balls
are officially scheduled with at least as
many organised by the city, professional
associations, churches, business
organisations, committees, schools and
clubs. Vienna can be cold and grey in
winter. There is no shortage of opportunities
to dress to the nines; party hard and literally
dance until dawn, keeping the Viennese in
good spirits – while contributing impressively
to the local economy.
Le Grand Bal, formerly the Imperial Ball, is
held each Silvester in various ballrooms in
the Hofburg, the former winter palace of the
Habsburg dynasty. The Silvester Ball kicks
off the winter ball season in Vienna in grand
style. Each year’s programme includes
world-class performances from the Vienna
State Opera, the Volksoper, dancers from
the major ballet companies, as well as
orchestras and bands offering everything
from Strauss to Jazz in the various rooms
of the palace. No Viennese ball would
be complete without the promenade of
the debutantes and their escorts. Balls in
Vienna begin with an opening ceremony
which includes the grand entrance of
the debutantes and their escorts, often
to the accompaniment of the traditional
“Facher Polanaise, Opus 525” by Karl
Michael Ziehrer. Show dances follow, the
easier choreography often performed by
the debutantes with the more intricate
parts performed by professional dancers.
All debutante ceremonies include an
elaborately choreographed set dance
for the debutante couples. Since 2000,
Thomas Schäfer Elmayer, of the Elmayer-
Vestenbrugg School of Dance, Vienna’s
most prestigious dance school, has been
Master of Dance at Vienna’s grand balls.
The master of ceremonies’ famous invitation
to dance, “Alles Walzer!” opens the dancing
to guests at Viennese balls. A memorable
fourcoursedinnerisalsoofferedatLeGrand
Bal, with, of course, champagne at midnight
to toast the New Year in unforgettable style.
A Viennese favourite is the Ball of the
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. For one
evening each year, the Vienna Musikverein
becomes a ballroom. The Vienna Opera
House also undergoes a similar overnight
transformation as its auditorium is equipped
with a dance floor that covers the seats for
its annual ball. First held in 1924, the Vienna
Philharmonic Ball has featured prominent
personalities from the worlds of art, politics
and society who comprise the Patronage
and Honorary Committee. Held annually
from 1924 to 1931 with a hiatus from 1932
to 1948, the festivities resumed again in
1949 and have become a highlight of the
Viennese ball season, only interrupted in
1991 (as was the Vienna Opera Ball) due
to the Gulf War.
3. Attended each year by heads of state,
celebrities from the worlds of entertainment,
the arts and politics (as well as thousands of
would-be celebrities), the Vienna Opera
Ball is perhaps the world’s most exclusive
and extravagant grand ball. In 1860,
when the staff of the Royal and Imperial
Court Opera moved into their opulent new
home on the Ringstrasse, Emperor Franz
Josef refused permission to hold dances in
his opera house. The first ball (Ball in der
Hofoper/Court Opera) was held instead
in the equally impressive building of the
Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien. In
1877, Franz Josef finally relented and
allowed a “soirée” to be held in his opera
house; however, dancing was not allowed
on the night of the celebration, the 11 to
the 12 of December. The Viennese Tourist
Journal stated the following day: “….it was
initially quite difficult, but Viennese blood
and Viennese courage withstood…after
midnight, there was the first proper dance
in the ballroom of our opera house.” After
the fall of the Empire in 1918, the young
republic returned to the tradition of holding
grand balls in the opera house on the Ring
and on January 21, 1921, the Republic
of Austria held the first “Opernredoute”,
the predecessor to today’s Opera Ball.
Renamed the Vienna Opera Ball in January,
1935, the ball has been an international
draw ever since. Interrupted from 1940 to
1955, the grand reopening of the Opera
House was celebrated in November 1955.
The highlight of all Viennese balls is the
quadrille, which has been a feature since
the 19th
Century. Always danced at
midnight,themostpopularisthe“Fledermaus
Quadrille” by Johann Strauss. The steps are
always explained in advance by the dance
master. Expect a mad dash through the
passages by rows of dancers – sometimes
ending in good-humoured chaos,
which is to be expected with a guest list
approaching 5000.
It’s been said that Vienna is its most colourful
at the Rudolfina Redoute, held each year
at the Hofburg. A masked ball, the Rudolfina
Redoute offers the ladies the opportunity
to choose gentlemen dance partners
until midnight.
Vienna’s most conservative ball is the
Jägerball (Hunters’ Ball) where full Tracht
(Austriannationaldress)isrequired. Trachten
can be very elegant and expensive,
especially the women’s long formal national
dress which differs according to the various
regions. For the ladies who cannot resist the
charm of the Dirndl or gentlemen who wish
to acquire Lederhosen, here is a guide
to the acceptable places, aside from the
Jägerball, where you can wear your newly
acquired Austrian Trachten.
Only a few of the major Viennese balls have
been mentioned here. A list of the most
important Viennese balls, all open to the
public, can be found here.
4. summer Balls
in Vienna
The ball season continues in the summer with The Fête Impérial, the
Concordia Ball and the Life Ball. On June 27, the Spanish Riding School
was transformed into a ballroom for The Fête Impérial with Elisabeth Gürtler,
managing director of the Vienna Sacher Hotel and former chair of the
annual Vienna Opera Ball, presiding. The theme for 2014 was “Red White
Red”; the festivities began with debutantes in white gowns and red sashes
(the colours of Austria’s flag) accompanied by their escorts in tuxedos or tails,
swirling into the famous Viennese waltz. They were joined by three thousand
other party goers dancing the waltz, fox trot and tango until dawn. Empress
Maria Theresia hosted rousing parties in the Spanish Riding School in the
mid-1800s. The Fête Impérial brings the tradition of court balls to a modern
audience with no less glitter and excitement.
The Press Club Concordia hosts its annual ball in Vienna’s Rathaus/City
Hall. The Concordia Ball has been one of Vienna’s most exclusive balls
for over 150 years. The theme for 2014 was “The Congress Dances” which
commemorates the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815). Guests also had the
opportunity to dance under the stars in the Arkadenhof. Information on the
Press Club Concordia and the ball (ball information in German only) can
be found here.
Follow this link for more information on Vienna’s Summer Balls.
The Life Ball is one of the world’s biggest AIDS benefit concerts. This year’s
theme was “Garden of Earthly Delights”. The opening festivities, held on
May 31 at the Rathausplatz and featuring appearances by international
celebrities and a fashion show presented by Italian Vogue for Men, were
open to the public. As usual, the event was flashy, shrill and colourful. All
donations from the Life Ball go to AIDS relief projects and to promote public
awareness of the disease.
Follow this link for other gay balls, shopping, hotels and events in Vienna
5. Dress
and
Etiquette
The major Viennese balls have strict dress codes.
For ladies: floor length ball gowns. White dresses
are traditionally worn by the debutantes who
usually change into more colourful gowns after
the official ceremonies. The gown should not
be so long or the skirt so narrow as to restrict
movement. Dance shoes are recommended,
though five inch heels are not.
Gentlemen are expected to wear tails (Frack in
German) and white tie, tuxedo or national uniform.
Deviations from the dress code can result in one
being refused admission to the balls.
Information regarding dress code is given on
the websites for the balls; click here for more
suggestions regarding ball etiquette.
Please note that smoking is strictly prohibited,
except in designated areas.