Our first Viennese Ball. I say "first" because it definitely won't be the last. It was awesome. Such a cool experience, and we both look forward to going again.

It was Saturday evening. Our babysitter, arrived about 6:30 and we planned on leaving about 7:00 because the opening show didn't begin until about 8:00 and the Hofburg Palace, where the ball was located isn't too far away from our house at all. So, after a pizza dinner with the kiddos, and after the babysitter was all settled in, we were off...

I already felt like a princess - mostly because my daughter, Addie told me that with my blue dress I looked like Elsa, and my sisters told me I looked liked Cinderella. Elsa or Cinderella - I felt like I was in a Disney movie, heading off happily to dance with my handsome Prince (in a tuxedo!). My hair was curled (which never happens, and took over an hour and a whole can of hairspray to make happen), I had sparkly jewelry (thanks to a birthday present from my friend, Natalie), and I was wearing a pretty, blue gown and high heels (which I fully regretted later, but that's besides the point). I think maybe for this reason alone, they should make Fancy Balls a 'thing' in the States... because I think every worn out mom should feel like a princess every once in a while. It was a great feeling.

We took public transportation to get the Ball, because... well, that's just how we get around everywhere here, and we didn't think to do anything differently. But when the straßenbahn dropped us off about two blocks from the entrance of the Palace, and we began our trek to the door, I realized that maybe - just maybe, in the event that one is wearing four inch high heels (in which she is expected to stand and dance for the next several hours) and a ball gown (that's so long it causes her to trip every few steps), and the weather involves cold, harsh, wind gusts (did I mention my hair was curled?), that maybe it would have been a smarter idea to take a Taxi. This seemed to be the main mode of transportation to the Ball, as we saw a giant continuous line of Taxis dropping off all the other princesses with curled hair and high heels right at the red carpet of the door. How nice. (Lesson learned for next time.)

But we survived, and made it to the Hoffburg Palace. Upon entering, I was already in awe of the magnificent building. It was simply grand, with magnificent paintings, gold leafing, detailed carvings and statues, and huge sparkling chandeliers all around. Giant and ornate. And absolutely incredible to think that (parts of) it was built over 700 years ago! I wish that I could have taken more pictures of just the building itself, but it was absolutely packed with people... but here is a nice photo of one of the many halls, when it's not packed with people...

Upon entry, the staff was checking to make sure everyone had proper tickets and were wearing the proper attire. The dress code was very strict. Men had to wear tuxedos, and ladies had to wear either floor length ball gowns or a formal, National costume, which I saw a lot of as well.

After we checked in our coats, we set off to find the main ballroom or 'Festaal.' It was packed with people, and the opening show was about to begin. The tables and chairs in the main ballroom were all reserved seats. We found out later that in order to purchase tickets for such desireable seats, you have to camp out the night before tickets go on sale. Needless to say, we did not have a reserved seat in the main ballroom. So when we walked in, and saw some people sitting on the steps near the stage, we sat down next to them. Later, just before the show began, we were asked to clear that section of steps for the perfomers' use. Eric and I thought we would have to leave the ballroom and miss the show, but we got really lucky and found another open seat on a step just in front of the reserved tables, and sat down. It ended up being prime seating for the show. Lucky us!

I had no idea what the opening show would entail. There was some talk, some announcements, and some thank you's... I learned that this, the IAEA Staff & Assocition Ball is the biggest and most well-attended ball in Vienna (and there are a LOT of balls in Vienna). There were over 3,000 people in attendance! Also, I didn't realize that this particular ball is a charity event, and all of the proceeds were donated to cancer research.

After the opening remarks, as series of performance began. They were all great. Eric got most of it on video, and combined them all into one reel... So I will simply list the order of the performers, and you can see for yourself!

1. An awesome band of Bagpipes came marching in. I will probably never understand how that instrument is actually played, but I can tell from watching that it takes a lot of talent. So cool!
2. The Ochestra Victoria. A professional orchestra from Argentina that specializes in Tango music. Consisting of violinists, a bassist, a brilliant pianist, and two people playing the bandonean, a type of accoridan. It was pretty spectacular.
3. And three pairs of profressional Tango dancers. (Wow! I tell you what, Wow!)
4. A soprano and tenor performed a song from a popular opperetta.(not included in video)
5. The debutantes from the Premier Dancing School of Vienna performed twice. This is one of the Viennese traditions that I find interesting. Learning how to walz and dance at balls is still very much a part of the culture here. Around the age of 18 (or older if you didn't get around to it), you attend ballroom classes and learn the tradional ballroom dances. As part of graduation from that class, you are required to perform at a ball. Traditionally, the ladies wear white gowns and carry a boquet of flowers - much like a bride. The men all wore matching tuxedos. It was really neat... like something from a movie.

After all the performances were over, they enthusiastically announced "Alles Waltze!" meaning, Everyone Walz! And seriously, everyone listened. Everyone in the room crowded the dancfloor, the mucic began, and chaos ensued. They were so eager to get in on the opening waltz, that it didn't seem to bother them that it was like trying to dance in a crowded elevator. Eric and I decided to hold off until the dance floor was a little less crowded.

Here is a peak of the opening show, and what it was like in the main ballroom:

We went to meet up with our friends that arrived late, and weren't able to get lucky seats like us. We decided to check out the other rooms. Did I mentione the Palace was enormous? It seemed like we roamed the inter-connected rooms and hallways for ever, and I'm pretty sure we only scractched the surface of seeing the entire place. In many of the large ballrooms they had different live music playing. Each room had a theme, with different types of music and dancing... I don't think we saw them all - but here is the list, that I got straight from the program.

Festsaal (Main ballroom): A combination of the best of Viennese tradition and "Big Band" Music
Zeremoniensaal: Contemporary pop, R&B, and rock
Metternichsaal: Strictly Salsa!
Redoutensaal: Reggae/Caribbean music
Rittersaal: A mix of pop, rock & roll and soul
Radetzky App. II: Chanson, jazz and swing
Gartensaal: Rock’n Roll, Pop and Soul
Heuriger: Viennese Heuriger Music
Forum: Disco
Maria Theresien App. II: Music Lounge / Buffet

So essentially it was like going to 10 different dances. The music was great, everyone was dancing in every room (they just don't hold back here!), and having a great time. There were also plenty of waiters and waitresses always nearby and lots of alcohol being consumed. Eric and I enjoyed a €10 bottle of sparkling water. (Good thing proceeds are going to a good cause!).

We danced a bit in the Reggae room, the Salsa room, and checked out a couple of the other rooms as well. By 11:00, my feet were screaming. I ditched the heels at one point and danced freely without them. That was nice.

Some points of this ball reminded me of my high school Prom... I loved seeing the pretty dresses, and the fancy hair do's, and there was a professional photographer there taking pictures of all the couples posing in awkward poses in front of a fancy backdrop... those things felt like prom. Here's a sneak peak from our photo shoot... you can tell that we were laughing... especially when the photographer instructed us to touch noses! (Touch noses!!)

But it was so much cooler than prom in so many ways... I loved all of the different national costumes too. I loved that there was such a mix of people there... people from all parts of the world. So many languages, so many different cultures, all brought together at a fancy, formal event. It was a really cool feeling. And there were people of ALL ages there. The young debutantes that looked like they were still in high school, and elderly people too, and all in between. There is nothing cuter than seeing an old, gray couple, all dressed up, ditch their canes and waltz on the ballroom floor. So cute! And not just the old people danced. Not just the debutantes either. And not just the super talented people danced either. Everyone was dancing. Nobody seemed to have any inhibitions about how they looked or what other people thought... they just let go and danced!
Personal note: I think one of the reasons this ball was so cool for me, is because I have always thought that I stink at dancing. (I've always thought that my sister, Jenn has much better moves than I do.) I always picture myself looking cool, or having good rythym, but then if I catch myself in a mirror or, heaven forbid - on video, I am embarrased by how awkward I look. I think my husband shares similar feelings, and has always solved the problem by simply refusing to dance. But on Saturday night at the ball, on the other side of the world where we don't know anyone, and we are foreigners anyway - it seemed to be all the more reason to say, "Who cares?!" Eric and I both let go of those fears, and just danced. Not just waltz either... we danced in the latin and pop rooms too. It was so much fun!