Annual victorian ball waltzes to Carrboro

Dancers at the 10th Annual Victorian Ball will travel back in time this weekend, disappearing into the world of hoop skirts, top hats and petticoats.

Triangle Vintage Dance is hosting the ball Saturday night in the Carrboro Century Center.

The event features traditional dances from the Victorian era, including the waltz, the polka and the schottische.

“Our goal is to promote historical dance in the triangle area,” said Dawn Imershein, co-owner of Triangle Vintage Dance.

The 10th Annual Victorian Ball will feature a mix of period couple dances as well as country dances, which utilize a caller who calls out each step as the dance progresses.

“It’s fun to go to a ball for a night,” said UNC junior Amanda McClees. She will be attending her second Victorian Ball Saturday.

Triangle Vintage Dance is also hosting a warm up lesson Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for new participants who want to familiarize themselves with the dances. The lessons will be held at Triangle Dance Studio in Durham.

The event attracts between 60 to 100 dancers every year, Imershein said.

Many of these participants choose to dress in the traditional styles of the Victorian era, which include ball gowns with hoop skirts or petticoats for women and various suits for men.

“It’s kind of hard to dance in because you can’t see your feet,” McClees said in reference to the Civil War-style dress she wore last year.

Katie Carter, a junior, said she wore a prom dress to her first ball but bought a more authentic gown for her second.

Although dressing in period attire is not required, many participants choose to do so to give the event a more authentic feel.

“If you could time travel, I am confident we would fit right in with the time period,” said Bob Chapman, a long-time dancer who has participated in vintage dance events in cities like Prague and Vienna.

Dancers can use traditional Victorian dance cards to help them keep track of their partners and to ensure that participants mix and mingle with a variety of people throughout the night, Chapman said.

Stephanie Haas, a professor at UNC’s School of Information and Library Science and a regular ball attendee, attributes the success of the event to the welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

“There’s a vibrant dance community in the Triangle area,” she said.

“It’s wonderful to play pretend.”

Contact the desk editor at arts@dailytarheel.com.