Collins LLC Viennese Ball brings back 1920s culture

An ice sculpture of the Collins Living-Learning Center’s gnome mascot melted as residents danced the night away Saturday at the annual Viennese Ball.\nThe ball, which was called the Cat’s Meow, was held inside of the Collins dining hall. The annual dance is held so Collins residents can have a formal dance where a live band plays, said Gretchen Sneegas, Collins vice president and director of programming.\nThe night started at 8 p.m. with orchestra music from Bloomington High School North. Students waltzed to classical music until midnight.\nSophomore Lane Sexton said she took dance lessons that were provided prior to the ball and found them to be beneficial. She said all the people who were waltzing that night proved the dance lessons’ success.\n“Every time Collins has something, it’s so inventive and fun and guaranteed to (provide) a good time,” Sexton said.\nAlthough no specific dress code was required for the ball, everyone dressed formally.\nMany were dressed according to the ball’s theme, the 1920s era. Some girls brought out flapper dresses.\n“(I came) because I never really dress up,” freshman Kayla Dickerson said. \nAs attendees got tired of dancing, water, lemonade and cookies waited at a table to give dancers more energy. Many people socialized while taking a break from dancing.\nAfter the first hour, the lights turned off and DJ Thomas Fehnar began to play ’80s and contemporary music.\nJunior Andy Peacock said one of his friends talked him into going to the Viennese Ball.\n“It seemed like fun and something different to do on a Saturday night,” he said.