Masquerade Ball

It is time to plan for our Annual

World View Classes Ball. The setting for the 2008 ball will be a masquerade

ball taking place in London at the Haymarket Opera House between the years 1710

and 1800. All of our balls are costume balls. So all guest should wear a period

costume appropriate to a masquerade ball taking place during this time.

Who is invited?

The Guest list is limited to all students currently enrolled in the World View

Classes, alumni of the Classes and Parents are also welcome, but remember the

costume!

The Assignment:

Each student that is currently enrolled in the classes is required to research

and recreate a historical character that actually lived during this time period

and could have possibly attended one of these balls. The character must be between

the ages of 15 and 90. Therefore, the character would have to be born between

1624 and 1785. All students will research a character and write a one-page biography

of their character and give an explanation as to why they chose the costume

they will wear. This assignment is due the week of January 7 on your class day.

Some students will not be able to attend due to conflicts in their schedules.

Those students still have to research a character and write a one-page biography

due the week January 7.

Alumni and Parents attending the Ball are asked to conform to the guidelines

of the characters, but they will not have to turn in any biographies.

Time and Place:

The Ball will be at the Eldorado Country Club in McKinney, located at 2604

Country Club Dr., McKinney, TX 75070.

Tickets are now on sale. Cost is $35.00 per person.

The time will be Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 5:30 to 11:00 PM.

The evening will consist of dinner, period dancing and live music.

A History of Masquerade

Masquerade balls first became popular in the fifteenth century Renaissance in

Italy, especially Venice. Members of the upper class would dress up and wear

elaborate masks and dance. The balls were elaborate public spectacles associated

with the tradition of the Venetian Carnival.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, masquerade balls spread through

Europe and eventually the American colonies. Sometimes the balls were semi-public,

while other times they were completely private, held in grand ballrooms built

into homes of the day. The Swiss count John James Heidegger is credited with

having introduced the Venetian fashion of the semi-public masquerade ball to

London from the year 1710 on, the first being held at Haymarket Opera House.

Types of Masquerade Costumes

Appropriate costumes for the ball can be inspired by the heyday of the masquerade,

the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. For that reason huge, fancy ball gowns

and old-fashioned tuxedoes with long coats or tails and top hats would be appropriate.

Attendees during that time would have drawn their inspiration for costumes from

the Renaissance era, other European cultures (Spain, for example, with ruffled

dresses) even Chinese culture, since there was a lot of trade with China in

those days. Other popular choices for masquerade costumes could be king and

queen costumes or jester outfits. This should help get you started. Use your

imagination.

Masquerade Costume Accessories

Of course, a masquerade would not be a masquerade without masks. Masks can be

simple paper or plastic masks that just cover the eyes or a much more elaborate

mask with feathers or sequins that covers more of the face. Some masks even

do double duty as a headdress. Other accessories that might be appropriate for

your masquerade costume include a crown or hat, a scepter if you are dressing

as a king or queen, a fan, long gloves, and tons of sparkly jewelry. Masquerade

costumes are about going all out and wearing something glamorous and fun. That

doesn't mean you have to spend a ton of money, but looking and feeling a little

rich is certainly in order.

Some attendees would go all out and come with their identity completely disguised.

Whereas, others would come with a simple mask that rarely disguised their identity

but they were there for the festivities. How will your character come?