Today, as Steampunkapalooza 2011 continues, I’d like to welcome Saundra Mitchell, author of the young adult book The Vespertine.
Saundra Mitchell has been a phone psychic, a car salesperson, a denture-deliverer and a layout waxer. She’s dodged trains, endured basic training, and hitchhiked from Montana to California. She teaches herself languages, raises children, and makes paper for fun. She’s also a screenwriter for Fresh Films and the author of Shadowed Summer and The Vespertine, and the forthcoming The Springsweet. She always picks truth; dares are too easy.
Let’s Go Dancing
by Saundra Mitchell
Let it be resolved that in 1889, it wasn’t just the upper crust who danced the night away during their rigid and formalized ball season. The American middle class did just as much fan flirting and dance-card gaming as their wealthier counterparts, but I suspect they had more fun doing it.
Without vast empires to merge and old money to protect with proper matches, the middle class showed up at their balls… to dance. To flirt, and fall in love; to gossip and steal sips of brandied punch. But, since the very-well-heeled weren’t opening their private ballrooms to the masses, the masses instead attended public balls.
Public balls were often held as fundraisers- they might be for a charity, or a public works project. Sometimes, to raise money for a church or synagogue. Unions also played host, as well as social clubs. And then there were plenty that were simply money-making ventures. Hotels especially enjoyed the extra revenue of hosting public balls on the holidays.
There were no invitations to manuever. Public balls were advertised in newspapers, and notices were posted in the post office and in other meeting places. For a fee, anywhere from a nickel to several dollars, anyone could attend, as long as they were properly dressed. (And yes, that meant along with specifically segregated balls, some public dances were multicultural events.)
Sometimes, you’d pay your admission in advance- dance cards often served double duty as the ticket. Others took cash at the door. Once inside, you’d find a string quartet or brass band in the corner providing music, a refreshment parlor and a ladies’ necessary. Unlike private affairs, public balls didn’t generally include dinner.
Which means you pay your money, you get your dance card, and you get straight to flirting, straight to the intrigue, straight to the best part of ball-going season: the dancing. Who said the rich get to have all the fun?
~Saundra Mitchell
I have a copy of The Vespertine to give away to one lucky commenter. Contest ends April 11 at 11:59 pm PST, contest open internationally. So if you went to a Victorian ball, what part of it would you look forward to the most?
The Vespertine… I need it.
Haha, a Victorian ball sounds like a lot of fun, actually…I always thought of them as stiff and boring, just a bunch of stuck-up rich people pretending to dance with each other, but the public events sound like a grand old time! I’m not exactly fond of dressing up (well, okay, maybe just a tiny bit, but you didn’t hear that from me!), but the thought of getting to dance with a cute guy sounds like something I’d enjoy (a girl’s gotta have fun, right?). I can’t dance to save my life, but maybe I could score a few dance lessons, no? *wiggles eyebrows*
And if an epic battle followed up, that would be icing on the cake. But that’s just my fantasy/action side talking.
The dress! I’d love to wear something that beautiful — steampunk gives me a chance to come close.
Also, a partner. My husband doesn’t dance; we had a slow dance at our wedding (think junior high dances), and that was pretty much it for a lifetime . . .
I would look forward to meet new interesting people and to gossip! I’m not fond of dancing, but I like to observe other people. But I’m forgetting something….. balls are those perfect occasions to discover the latest fashion (or create a new one)!
Thank you for the interesting post! 😀
I have never been much of a dancer, but I’m sure all of the fancy attire would have kept me occupied at a Victorian ball. People watching can indeed be very entertaining in between a waltz or two.
The dressing up, for sure! It would be a ball!
candace_redinger at yahoo dot com
Probably the eating. (sigh) I’m not a very good dancer due to a physical deformity….
I was born with two left feet.
Getting tipsy and dancing like a crazy person, of course. I have only simple needs.
Great post, Saundra. Looking forward to the book!
Great post, Sandra…I really enjoyed hearing about the ways the balls different both between classes & how the ones for the middle class differed from each other. And mulitcultural balls too? That’s great! Thank you for the info.
OMG dressing up for sure. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the beautiful dresses! Who wouldn’t want to look that stunning! That would definitely be the highlight of my Victorian Ball experience.
I would look forward to the dancing the most at a ball. And the flirting of course.
I would look forward to the elegant clothes, and the dancing! Please enter me in your draw.
What a fabulous post. I had heard of “Public Balls” but I had no idea what that meant or that some were multi-cultural.
I also really enjoy the style of your writing.
Thanks so much!
Shannon
Were I to attend a Victorian ball, I think I should enjoy both the fashions and the conversation, debating with anyone who would contest me. Of course, I shouldn’t forget the flirting and the opportunities to make new friends. Without a social life, existence in the Victorian era should hardly be worth it.