Collins to hold annual Viennese Ball

Collins Living-Learning Center will host its free, traditional Viennese Ball from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday in the Collins Dining Hall, Collins Vice President and Director of Programming Gretchen Sneegas said. \nThe tradition of a Viennese Ball was first started in the 1980s after Collins residents requested a formal dance that would have live music, Sneegas said. When the event first started, students danced to classical music. Since then, Collins residents have kept the tradition going, but have changed to more contemporary music.\n“(The Viennese Ball) is always a fun time for Collins residents,” Saraceno, Collins Student Service Assistant, said. “And it’s fun to see everyone dressed up formally.”\nThe ball will include four hours of dancing, Sneegas said. One hour will be dedicated to traditional ballroom dancing with music from a harmonic orchestra. The other three hours will include music by a disc jockey Sneegas said.\nThe theme of this year’s Viennese Ball is “The Cat’s Meow.” The name of the theme reflects the 1920s underground prohibition mood that organizers hope to recreate at the ball, Sneegas said. \nAlthough Sneegas said there is no dress code for the ball, attendees are recommended to dress formally. \nAnna Saraceno said many students also wear masks for the ball. \nLight refreshments will be served, and the traditional ice sculpture of the Collins mascot, the gnome, will also be in attendance, dance coordinator Kathryn Kinkead said. \nKinkead is also hosting workshops for people who want to brush up on their dance moves before the Viennese Ball. She’s hosting dance workshops at 3 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday. The workshops will be held in the Collins Coffee House and are free and open to everyone who wants to learn how to do dances such as the Charleston and the Dive. \nThe ball is open to everyone, but is only promoted within Collins, Sneegas said. \n“It’s a very memorable excuse to come down and dance,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun (and) is an event that’s not that common.”