The Gaskell Ball is a bimonthly Victorian-styled ball held by Ye Gaskell Occasional Dance Society in Oakland, California, USA, popular among re-creationists and vintage dance enthusiasts. The Ball came to be over 25 years ago, as an offshoot of a dance portion of the Great Dickens Christmas Fair held in San Francisco.
The event is held at Oakland's Scottish Rite Center on the shore of Lake Merritt. Current admission stands at $20 for the evening,...
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The Gaskell Ball is a bimonthly Victorian-styled ball held by Ye Gaskell Occasional Dance Society in Oakland, California, USA, popular among re-creationists and vintage dance enthusiasts. The Ball came to be over 25 years ago, as an offshoot of a dance portion of the Great Dickens Christmas Fair held in San Francisco.
The event is held at Oakland's Scottish Rite Center on the shore of Lake Merritt. Current admission stands at $20 for the evening, which includes a basic lesson for early attendees and some small potluck refreshments. Dances are taught during a brief course before the ball begins, and include vintage waltz, schottische, polka, mazurka, and several English country dances. Occasionally, groups will form on the sidelines to dance alternate arrangements to the English Country songs; previous examples include Irish four-hand reels, the Scottish country dance "Petronella", the Virginia reel, and various Contra dances. Full Victorian dress is not required; the dress code is...
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