Potential Vienna Dance Trip, Feb 14-17, 2007  
 DRAFT ONLY,   Nov. 26, 2006, Sid Hetzler, 706 539 2485; sid [at] splittree.org

Note from Sid Hetzler:  Since we need a group for better hotel and maybe flight rates, I have started using the name, American [maybe International]  Waltzing Society, for this trip and potentially other similar activities focused on waltz.  Volunteers are needed.  If you have an interest in this project, please email me.  I have produced waltz weekends since 1997 for Stanford professor Richard Powers and teaching partner Angela Amarillas Roth and founded and led the Atlanta Waltz Society from 2000 to 2006.   Since my first trip to Vienna in 1995 for Silvester, the NY's Eve ball at the Hofburg Palace, I've enjoyed seeing many take in interest in waltzing and hope to continue efforts to broaden interest with trips to Vienna, more workshops at my Split Tree Farm ballroom/studio, print and media research, and teaching.

Link for the ball calendar, in German but easy to follow and some pages have English versions:
http://www.wien.gv.at/vadb/internet/AdvPrSrv.asp?Layout=Ballkalender&Type=S

Other Viennsese Balls World-wide: http://www.vienneseball.org/default.php and
  http://www.vienneseball.org/calendar.php

Nelson Bridwell's Page on Viennese Balls -- excellent page and valuable introductory comments.

Prof. Hannelore Umfried's historic waltz week is called "Viennese Dances of the Strauss Era" and happens in Vienna Feb 4-10 with a closing Grand Strauss Ball Feb 10 at the Palais Pallavicine ballroom. 

Here are the starting points for the dates I recommend, Feb 14-17); well worth surfing the web and seeing photos, venues, etc; some have english and others not.   There are hundreds of these balls, about 300 I've read, during the winter season.   the big crescendo is this week, since it marks on Thursday I think the beginning of Lent, or close to it, or the carnival Fasching season.

Ball cost estimate (see below):  180 euro, 200 US (may be on high side); lots of options here.
(main balls now recommended:  Wed, J Strauss at Kursalon ($75); Thurs ?; Fri, Wiener Fluchtingball at Rathaus ($35); Sat, Juristen Ball at Hofburg ($105).
Room cost estimate:  our group rate, shared double = 50 euro/night, or 200 euro, about 250 US dollar.
Airfare, based on Jane's first check:   $800
Meals; one big one Sat night, $40 est, and $100 others with free ample breakfasts starting at 6 am at Hotel Zipser= total $150 estimate, depending; could be less of course if buy in markets and eat in rooms, hotel dining room.

 
Total estimate in dollars
balls = $200, but wide range
lodging = 250
airfare = 800
meals = 150
__________
total $1,400
take out the airfare with air miles and very reasonable.
maybe there are airline group rates if we could find a travel agent or consolidator.
can use "American Waltzing Society" or "International Waltzing Society" for the moment as our "group"

 


Suggestion for special dining close to the Zipser Hotel for a Friday or Saturday night before a grand ball:
 Photo of old-style circa 1820s Viennese waltzers from 19C print on wall of Piaristenkeller in Vienna
About the Piaristenkeller Restaurant ( of interest to vintage and historical dancers):
1.  Dine where Mozart dined, mentioned in a letter to his wife Constanze in 1791, the last year of his life.
2.  The unique, historic Restaurant Piaristenkeller, behind the Zipser Pension, a favorite of U.S. carnival season dancers.

Guide to the perfect kiss on the hand by the accomplished gentleman (from Piaristenkeller archives):
"The perfect kiss on the hand" by the accomplished gentleman and what must be remembered:
For the hand kiss, the lady stretches her right hand to around chest height with the back of her hand facing upwards towards the gentleman (if she is sitting - or is permitted to remain seated! even somewhat higher).
If the lady holds her hand lower with the back of her hand to the side, she is signalling that she does not expect a kiss on the hand, and the gentleman may then cautiously test whether she is simply being modest or whether she does in fact desire a kiss on the hand, by gently raising her hand and attempting to turn the back of her hand upwards.
Raising or turning her hand by applying pressure is out of the question as is taking full hold of her and pulling her towards him.
The gentleman should always support the lady's hand just gently with his own and raise it slightly towards him; he leans forward slightly at the same time towards the back of her hand. His lips do not touch her hand! and are not puckered for a 'kiss on the mouth'. Neither does the gentleman look into the lady's eyes when kissing her hand and certainly not at her neckline.
Holding the lady's gaze is deemed to be provocative.
The best thing for the gentleman is to lower his gaze or to close his eyes..
A note of caution!
If you greet a lady with a hand kiss, you should show the other ladies the same respect unless you greet a very distinguished lady in the order of ranking with a kiss on the hand, and who is moreover considerably older or more dignified, as the case may be, than the rest of the ladies present - only then are you not obliged to greet the remaining ladies likewise with a hand kiss.
Once someone has started to express his respect for the ladies with a hand kiss, he should also keep this up at the next encounter.䌀䕄䝆"The perfect kiss on the hand" by the accomplished gentleman and what must be remembered:
For the hand kiss, the lady stretches her right hand to around chest height with the back of her hand facing upwards towards the gentleman (if she is sitting - or is permitted to remain seated! even somewhat higher).
If the lady holds her hand lower with the back of her hand to the side, she is signalling that she does not expect a kiss on the hand, and the gentleman may then cautiously test whether she is simply being modest or whether she does in fact desire a kiss on the hand, by gently raising her hand and attempting to turn the back of her hand upwards.
Raising or turning her hand by applying pressure is out of the question as is taking full hold of her and pulling her towards him.
The gentleman should always support the lady's hand just gently with his own and raise it slightly towards him; he leans forward slightly at the same time towards the back of her hand. His lips do not touch her hand! and are not puckered for a 'kiss on the mouth'. Neither does the gentleman look into the lady's eyes when kissing her hand and certainly not at her neckline.
Holding the lady's gaze is deemed to be provocative.
The best thing for the gentleman is to lower his gaze or to close his eyes..
A note of caution!
If you greet a lady with a hand kiss, you should show the other ladies the same respect unless you greet a very distinguished lady in the order of ranking with a kiss on the hand, and who is moreover considerably older or more dignified, as the case may be, than the rest of the ladies present - only then are you not obliged to greet the remaining ladies likewise with a hand kiss.
Once someone has started to express his respect for the ladies with a hand kiss, he should also keep this up at the next encounter.䌀䕄䝆

 

back to the more mundane, note also there are some great used formal wear clothing shops if anyone needs such for men and women.
and formal rental attire also is available at these shops, which seem to be a small chain in Austria.

there's a Strauss Museum, and Mozart, and next to Strauss one the "3/4-Time Cafe."  and of course zillions of places to visit.

 
lots of other carnivals ball but this is the high season week and would be advisable to hold a block of rooms if we want to push it.
and air seats.

 
forgive the typos below but this is first effort.
see my web page for more info, www.splittree.org/waltz/waltz.htm.  you'll see some old stuff that I'll be updating.
and will make this into a web page if we decide to go ahead with it.
let's talk this weekend before the ball maybe. i'll be around long enough to meet with some people you suggest.


The Kursalon at the Stadtpark (State Park)  is the main Strauss and Mozart tourist place but is very historic and have been to several things there.

 
Here are the balls with my preliminary recommendations, while I have a bit of time this morning, for Feb 14-17 (got a little confused on these dates in some earlier emails)
Will do more homework on the ones I have not attended and have copied English web info if found.

 
I exclude the Thurs, Feb 16 Opera Ball for dancing due to cost, crowding, stuffiness but it might be worth buying inexpensive standing room tickets to see and photograph part of it just for the experience and before we go to another ball if one is being held but as yet unpublicized, as was the case in 1998 when there was a rowdy masked "alternative"  ball with rock and roll music for the young and young at heart at the Kursalon ballroom.  You can read a lot about this on its web pages.

 
Most of the balls I've attended start at 9 or 10 pm and end around 4-5 am, a closing time which seems not to published.   There is food and drink; most people have dinner before the ball but there is food of dubious health benefit to sustain dancer energy; or best to bring your own carbs/Gatorade, etc.  

 
Wed, Feb 14   (also this is Valentine Day ball)and the the than two I think
Venue:  Kursalon, State park  (Stadtpark)
Ball:  Johann Strauss Ball, formal
Cost:  Euro 45, 65, 90 (note:  higher prices usually mean with tables, sometimes some food is included) but most in the know eat before and just pay for dancing and find a few seats after midnight when the tourists start going home.  Best dancing is midnight to 4 am or close.

 
Thurs, Feb 15
Venue:  Opera House
Ball: Wein Opera Ball (Opernball)
Cost:  from Euro 12 to absurd
Not recommended for the dancing but a world spectacular event equal to NY's Eve Dancing at the Hofburg Palace.
Note:  probably there is another alternative ball that would be good contrast with the formal balls; more a wild carnival theme
this is I think Ash Thursday, the start of Lent, and so there are no doubt some blow out parties in this Catholic city/county.

 

Friday, Feb 16 (5 balls)

Ball der Technologen   (don't know much about this but is at Hofburg and for younger set I think; low cost)of the
02/16/2007
Venue: Imperial Palace (Hofburg)
Street: 1 Heldenplatz
City: Vienna, Austria
Schedule: 20:00 Admission
21:00 Opening Ceremony
04:00 Close
Tickets: €50, (Students €21)
Web: http://www.tgm.ac.at/Ball/ball.html
Telephone: 332 86 91
Mail: Verband der Technologen, A-1200 Wien, Wexstrasse 19-23

Ball:  Bonbon Ball
Venue:  Wiener Konzerthaus (Viennna Concert House)
Cost:  Euro 60
Notes:  We attended this one and it is big commercial sponsored thing by the candy companies with mostly American contemporary dance music, rock, blues, pop.   Not recommended if you're not a big pop music dancer or ballroom style dancer.  but a fun thing for the experience.  suit and tie, not formal.

 
The next three on Fri, Feb 16 are unknown to me at this time but see info collected; emails sent.
1.  Ball:  Wiener Fluchtingball   -  a benefit ball, lots of varied music, could be fun, break from formal balls.
     Venue:  Rathaus (City Hall, a few blocks and easy walk from Hotel Zipser)
     Notes:  This could be more a public ball and could be fun; not sure what the name means.
     Cost:  Euro 28 and 30
From English web page:
Viennese Fluchtlingsball
Rathaus (CityHall)
February 16th, 2007

 
Viennese Fluchtlingsball
The multi-cultural highlight of the Viennese ball season. Music from:
Shantel& Bukovina Club Orchester
Milagros Pinera & Sanmera
Russkaja
Insingizi
Juanita und die Chili Cheeps
Haja Madagascar
Denk
DJ su/ofisticated
Viennese Flüchtlingsball
16. February 2007, Viennese city hall
Inlet 20.00; Beginning 21.00
Advance sale of tickets starts at Dezember 1st at every BA-CA-branch and at Jugendinfo Wien (1010 Wien, Babenbergerstraße 1)
Prices: 33,-(as)/35,-(box office)

 
 
2.  Ball:  Boogie Woogie & Petticoat, Fasching Ball  -- probably a younger set ball with a visit if you have around $50 bucks.
      Venue:  Hotel Arcotel Wimberger
       Cost:  Euro 35 and 40
Datum: 16.2.2007
Wochentag(e): Fr
Uhrzeit: Einlass: 20.00 Uhr, Beginn: 21.00 Uhr
Gschnas mit Michael Pewny, The Legendary Daltons un Little Franky & Townbeats.
Preis: VVK € 35,00, AK € ‚¬ 40,00
Kartenverkauf: 01/52165810
Kategorie(n): Ball, Fasching
Veranstaltungsort/Veranstalter/in:
Hotel Arcotel Wimberger ****
Neubaugürtel 34-36
1070 Wien
Erreichbarkeit
Telefon: 0043-1/521 65
Fax: 0043-1/521 65/810

 

 
3. Ball:  Pannonenball  (emailed for info)
Venue:  Austria Trend Parkhotel Schonbrunn
Cost:  unknown
The hotel from web page:
Parkhotel Schönbrunn was built in 1907 as the guest house of Emperor Franz Josef I. and today offers modern comfort to the visitors to the romantic city of Vienna. The hotel is located in the immediate vicinity of the "Schönbrunn Palace" and is surrounded by a park. The imperial atmosphere of bygone days together with modern facilities and friendly service make the hotel unique in the city of Vienna.
The hotel owns one of the few preserved classic ballrooms in Vienna with a unique ambience in which numerous traditional balls take place.
The grand ballroom, a classical Viennese ballroom with a long tradition, suited for balls as well as gala dinners, presentations and conferences, is a glamorous venue for 250 to 800 people. The unique style is perfect to stage traditional functions and balls or the exciting contrast to modern product presentations or events.   Web link to ballroom photo:  http://www.austria-trend.at/en/?id=paw
From web page:  Pannonenball
Datum: 16.2.2007
Wochentag(e): Fr
Uhrzeit: Einlass 20.00 Uhr, Beginn 21.00 Uhr
Kartenverkauf: 01/4062678
Kategorie(n): Ball
Veranstaltungsort:
Austria Trend Parkhotel Schönbrunn ****
Hietzinger Hauptstraße 10-20
1130 Wien
Erreichbarkeit
Telefon: 0043-1/878 04
Fax: 0043-1/87 804/3220
Homepage
E-Mail
Veranstalter/in:
Univeritas Pannoniae
Färbergasse 8
1010 Wien
Erreichbarkeit
Telefon: 0043-1/406 26 78 

 

 
Saturday, Feb 17
The Hofburg is the best, for me, part of the whole trip and all balls there have lots of the older music but also various bands and genres in half a dozen other ballrooms in the palace with varied music for dancing.  Just about all dance and don't just sit and watch. 
I attended the Juristen (Lawyers) Ball at the Hofburg twice and it's a big deal with tails/formal and about half Strauss music with other swing and ballroom stuff plus other bands throughout the Hofburg Palace, probably several thousand dancers in all.  About as good musically and a ballroom as it gets.  I have video of this one.
1.  Ball: Juristenball Ball
Venue:  Hofburg Palace   see http://www.hofburg.com/  or for English http://www.hofburg.com/e/home/index.php
Cost:  Euro 95
Datum: 17.2.2007
Wochentag(e): Sa
Uhrzeit: Einlass 20.00 Uhr, Beginn 21.30 Uhr
Eintrittskarten gibt es auch in der Buchhandlung Manz, 1010 Wien, Kohlmarkt 16, Mo-Fr 09.30-18.30 Uhr, Sa 09.30-17.00 Uhr. Es wird keine Abendkassa geben.
Preis: € 95,00
Ermäßigung: Stud. € 40,00
Kartenverkauf: 01/401271535
Kategorie(n): Ball
Veranstaltungshomepage
E-Mail zur Veranstaltung
Veranstaltungsort:
Hofburg
Hofburg
1010 Wien
Erreichbarkeit
Telefon: 0043-1/587 36 66
Fax: 0043-1/535 64 26
Homepage
E-Mail
Veranstalter/in:
Juristenverband
Landesgerichtsstraße 11
1010 Wien
Erreichbarkeit
Telefon: 0043-1/401 27-1535
Fax: 0043-1/401 27-1482 

 
Hofburg Redoutensale Vienna ballroom/concert room history:
Rendezvous with History

 
The Hofburg Redoutensäle Vienna, which are connected to the Hofburg Congress Center Vienna, have retained the architectural and cultural brilliance of their past up until today.
Built as an opera house in 1705 under Emperor Joseph I, grandiose baroque operas were performed in the Redoutensäle. In 1748 Maria Theresia commissioned Jean Nicolas Jadot to redesign this part of the Hofburg. In the festival halls numerous concerts, "Redoutes" (masked balls), as well as the magnificent wedding banquet of Joseph II and Isabella of Parma took place.
Ludwig van Beethoven€™s 8th Symphony was performed here for the first time, the composers Josef Strauss and Franz Liszt conducted concerts in these glittering halls, and a number of smaller Mozart operas were performed.
The rooms were restored after the fire of 1992 partly in their original design, and partly combined with contemporary art. Furnished with the most modern technical conference equipment, the Redoutensäle were opened again in 1997.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for the brochure "The History of the Building".

 
2. Ball:  Albertball 2007   (not attended)
Venue:  Palais Auersperg
Cost:  Euro 33
Web link for the venue:  http://www.auersperg.com/index_2.htm (in German)
I dont' have much on this one yet but some of the high balls are held here, meaning doctors, etc.  
Albertball 2007
Datum: 17.2.2007
Wochentag(e): Sa
Uhrzeit: 20.30 Uhr
Um Abendkleidung wird gebeten.
Preis: Erw. € 33,00
Ermäßigung: Schüler € 20,00
Kontaktperson: Mag. Alfred Wimmer
Telefon: 0676/9251800
E-Mail
Kategorie(n): Ball
Veranstaltungsort:
Palais Auersperg
Auerspergstraße 1
1080 Wien
Erreichbarkeit
Telefon: 0043-1/401 070
Fax: 0043-1/401 07 77
Homepage
Veranstalter/in:
Öffentliches Gymnasium und Realgymnasium - BGRG 8
Albertgasse 18-22
1080 Wien
Erreichbarkeit
Telefon: 0043-1/405 61 15
Fax: 0043-1/405 61 15-55 

 

 
3.  Ball:  Ball der Heimat
Venue:  Hotel Arcohtel Wimberger
Cost:  Euro 30
Ball der Heimat
Datum: 17.2.2007
Wochentag(e): Sa
Uhrzeit: Einlass: 18.00 Uhr, Beginn: 19.00 Uhr
Die Gäste werden gebeten, in Abendkleidung oder Tracht zu erscheinen.
Preis: VVK € 30,00, AK € ‚¬ 35,00
Ermäßigung: Trachten, Stud., Militär € 25,00
Kartenverkauf: 01/7141803
Kategorie(n): Ball
Veranstaltungsort:
Hotel Arcotel Wimberger ****
Neubaugürtel 34-36
1070 Wien
Erreichbarkeit
Telefon: 0043-1/521 65
Fax: 0043-1/521 65/810
Homepage
E-Mail
Veranstalter/in:
Verein der Siebenbürger Sachsen
Steingasse 25
1030 Wien
Erreichbarkeit
Telefon: 0043-1/714 18 03
Fax: 0043-1/714 18 03 

 
4. Ball: Nacht der Wiener Wirtschaft  Ball, probably a charity ball seeing the high cost, not recommended
Venue:  Wiener Rathaus (City Hall)
Cost:  Euro 360  (really pricey)    Web link to 2006 ball, appears to be maybe the TV industry, not sure. 
http://www.nachtderwirtschaft.at/content/fotos.php?o=0

 
Nacht der Wiener Wirtschaft
Datum: 17.2.2007
Wochentag(e): Sa
Uhrzeit: Einlass: 20.00 Uhr, Beginn: 21.30 Uhr
Smoking und Abendkleid.
Preis: € 360,00
Kartenverkauf: 01/5224766-13
Kategorie(n): Ball
Veranstaltungsort:
Wiener Rathaus (Seiteneingang)
Lichtenfelsgasse 2
1082 Wien
Erreichbarkeit
Veranstalter/in:
Wirtschaftsverband Wien
Mariahilfer Straße 32
1070 Wien
Erreichbarkeit
Telefon: 0043-1/522 47 66
Fax: 0043-1/526 23 52 

 
From program page in German:
Festsaal

 
19:00 Uhr
Dinnermusik
Damenkapelle „Wiener Hofburg€œ
19:30 Uhr
Beginn Galadinner
21:00 Uhr
Charity Versteigerung
21:45 Uhr
Schülerinnen und Schüler der Ballettschule der Wiener Staatsoper
22:00 Uhr
Balleröffnung durch Bgm. Dr. Michael Häupl und den Präsidenten des Wirtschaftsverbandes Wien Fritz Strobl
22:15 Uhr
Dancing Stars Marika Lichter und Andy Kainz
22:30 Uhr
Big Band
Richard Österreicher
24:00 Uhr
Mitternachtseinlage
Natela Nicoli und Eteri Lamoris
anschließend
Tombola Preisziehung

 
Nebensäle
Stadtsenatssitzungssaal:
Planter's Bar, Chill Out Lounge,
DJ Music
Steinsaal I:
Casino, Relax Zone
Wappensaal:
Emotion Music
Grauer Salon:
Emotion Music
Steinsaal II:
Wiener Kaffeehaus

 
5. Ball:   V Polnischer Fruhlingsball  (Polish Ball, best I can make out; see web pages), not recommended, mostly American music and Polish but could be worth a look if allowed in as a visiting guest.
Cost:  Euro 120
Venue:  Palais Ferstel, lovely old historic ballroom
Web link:  http://www.taktkultur.at/
Music:   Oprawa muzyczna:
"GRAND EXPRESS"
"PRAGA BIG BAND"
zespół folklorystyczny"MAGURZANIE"

 

 
End