2018 Quadrille Ball

I look forward to the Quadrille Ball every year (if you don’t know what the Quadrille Ball is, click here!) and this year it was particularly special since I was the Ladies’ Chair of the Junior Committee, and my friend Andrew was the Men’s Chair.

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We were lucky enough to be supported by our amazing Vice Chairs, Taylor and Lauren!

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As well as our entire incredible Junior Committee!

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As you know from my behind the scenes post, the Junior Committee teams up with the Ball Committee to put on a successful Quadrille Ball.

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But our efforts wouldn’t be complete without our dedicated group of dancers.

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The day of the ball is a long one, but also a very fun one. The Junior Committee arrives at The Pierre in the early morning and begins setting up and coordinating the dancer ladies’ hair and makeup appointments while simultaneously getting ready themselves.

Then that afternoon the dancers have one final dress rehearsal.

While the Junior Committee looks on and gives any last-minute tips and feedback. After all, the entire Junior Committee has performed this dance at least once themselves!

(You can see pictures from when I danced four years ago here).

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This year we even had a bit of time during the rehearsal to do some dancing ourselves!

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I love the time before the ball begins. It’s so much fun getting the dancers ready and hanging out with each other.

And we even had a special surprise: Claire coming back from Seattle to visit us!

Here we are trying to get Claire’s attention. She was quite the popular addition!

Then shortly before the ball began the Junior Committee headed upstairs to Andrew’s hotel room for a special toast. Andrew and I gave the first speeches, thanking everyone for their hard work.

And then Johnny V, the liaison between the Ball Committee and the Junior Committee, gave his, thanking Andrew and me for our efforts. Although really we should be the ones thanking him, since his support was essential throughout the entire season and we are so grateful to him!

The JC toast is also a time to take fun pictures before the formalities of the ball begin.

Then it was time to move downstairs for the party!

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The Quadrille Ball begins with a cocktail hour.

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Which is also the perfect time to take photos in front of the step-and-repeat.

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Then it’s time to move into the ballroom for the main event!

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The journey from the cocktail hour to the ballroom is always a special one, since the dancers line the corridor and bow and curtsey to you as you pass.

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As the Chairs, Andrew and I were the last to enter and were formally introduced to the ballroom. How fun is that?!

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Then the Quadrille Ball ceremonies began!

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Followed by the highlight of the evening: the performance of the Quadrille by this year’s dancers.

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The entire ballroom, and especially the Junior Committee, looked on with anticipation.

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Including this year’s dance teachers, Charles and Sherry!

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Luckily the dancers did a great job and made us all proud!

Then the entire room took to the dance floor.

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And we spent the rest of the evening dancing like ~~no one~~ the New York Times photographer was watching!

(You can find that feature here).

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But the night didn’t end there. At 1am we headed back across The Pierre to the room where we had the cocktail hour, which had been transformed into a fabulous 1920s-esq nightclub.