Re: Victorian Ball, Sat. 3/24/07 in Carrboro, NC

On Mar 21, 8:02 am, "Amanecer" <dmsImersh...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Triangle Vintage Dance is holding its fifth annual Victorian Ball,
> Sat. March 24th in Carrboro, NC.  It is a great evening with energetic
> country dances from the Civil War / Victorian eras (1860s-1890s),
> taught and called like contra dances, interspersed with couple dances
> like the Waltz, Polka and Schottische.

Every year I go to the (Charles) Dickens Festival in Riverside,
California. I go with a group of friends and we all get dressed up in
clothing of the era. Most of our costumes we put together from our own
closets or we scour vintage & thrift stores for things. But there are
quite a few people who go who actually sew their own costumes from
authentic patterns. It's quite the sight.

It's a 2-day event and on Saturday night there is "Mr. Fezziwig's
Ball," a dance complete with live (small) orchestra. The people who
attended the festival during the day in their "day" outfits now change
into their era evening clothes. This year is the first year I've
stayed to watch the ball and I was entranced - reels, waltzs, etc. I
can't wait to put together my formal ball gown and actually
participate in the ball.

Not everyone gets dressed up in costume - there were a few gents in
slacks and even one man in his cowboy hat, and while some of the women
were very elaborate with hoop skirts, etc., many were also in simple
floor length dresses. The men seemed to gravitate toward military
uniforms and most looked very handsome.

Although the quality of the dancing was... shall I say...
interesting ... by most of our standards, everyone looked like they
were having the best time and truly enjoying themselves.

What fun!