Catching Up: Part I

Once again, life has gotten in the way of updating this thing. I suppose that's a good sign, indicative of my freedom from the bonds of my computer. Or it's simple lethargy. No, surely it's the former. Surely.

At any rate, the Viennese Opera Ball has come and gone. (Check here for background information.) It was magical.

I arrived at the Waldorf-Astoria at 3:30pm, having taken a cab down there with some fellow waltzers. The girls ran off to start the costume/make-up process, while another leader and I cruised the neighborhood for some food. Ah, cheese steaks on Park Ave. We then had to dress in our tailsuits and be ready by 5pm for some more rehearsing (we had rehearsed at the Waldorf every day that week but one). We had to wait for the debutantes to rehearse their polonaise, which was finally starting to pull together, so a few of us snuck out of our green room to see the ballroom. It was beautiful, centerpieces of roses and long-stem candles on every table, all the places set for dinner, and the whole ambiance of the grand ballroom lit only by candle-light.


We rehearsed a few times ourselves, whilst mingling with the debutantes, a ballet couple from Austria, and the Met Opera singers who were also performing that night. It seemed to go on forever. Finally, at 9pm, the evening began. There had been a reception in a salon since 8pm, while we were rehearsing, so we didn't get to see that. As all of the guests, wealthy patrons, and UN Ambassadors took their seats, we watched the opening ceremonies from our staging area. A merchant marine bugle corps announced the procession of dignitaries (mostly members of the Austrian government). The debutante polonaise followed, and then the Austrian ballet couple with their minuet. Then we were on. Our performance went very smoothly, and was very well received. Over too soon, we bowed before the applause of the ballroom and started the Alles Waltzer (Everyone waltzes) to, of course, the Blue Danube Waltz. It was amazing to be dancing in that ballroom, in tails, at the Waldorf. Unbelievable.

During the Alles Waltzer, my dance partner and I were joined by our guests on the floor. (Each member of the waltz performance group was allowed to bring one guest.) My date looked beautiful, and seeing her for the first time on the floor I nearly tripped. (Well....) After the dance, we all went to our tables for dinner. Our table was on the balcony, overlooking the entire ballroom. We enjoyed the opera performances and an exquisite meal before the orchestra took up again and we danced some more. This went on until 1am, when the ballroom finally closed for the evening.

Far from from being over, everyone moved to a couple of salons--each with its own music, drinks, and snacks. Here we mingled, and danced to a jazz band, until nearly 5am. Finally, exhausted but overjoyed, we took a cab home. Parting gifts included a bottle of nice wine, some Austrian chocolates, and $1,000 off my next private jet charter of $10,000 or more.

What an amazing night. Quite literally, a dream come true.