Fezziwig's Ball Comes to Life at Old Town Hall in Salem, MA

Nov. 29, 2010 - PRLog -- On a crisp December evening with a hint of snow in the air, the front doors to Salem's Old Town Hall swing wide and a jubilant Mr. Fezziwig, in authentic 19th century attire, invites a group of carolers into the glowing warmth within for an evening of live music, authentic 19th century dancing, and a lavish array of Victorian holiday treats.  Such was the scene that greeted revelers at last year's Fezziwig's Ball, which returns for a second year to Salem's Old Town Hall on December 11, 2010 from 7:00 to 11:00PM.

The 2nd annual Fezziwig's Ball is co-sponsored by the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers and the Gordon College Institute for Public History.  Advance purchase tickets are $30, or $15 for students, and can be purchased at www.vintagedancers.org or by calling 617-819-4283.  Tickets purchased after December 9 include a $5 per ticket surcharge.

“Both the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers and the Gordon Institute for Public History share a common mission to bring history to life in engaging and memorable ways,” says Barbara Pugliese, co-director of the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers.  “Through music, dance, costume, actor interpretation, and attention to period detail, our goal is an unforgettable evening in which guests feel truly transported to Dickens' world.”

To help create this illusion, participants are encouraged to wear period costumes from the lifetime of Charles Dickens, although modern evening dress is also acceptable.  The evening begins at 7:00PM with a lantern procession and caroling through the streets of Salem, followed at 8:00PM by a selection of the most popular social dances of the mid-19th century.  Everyone is encouraged to join in the dancing, and instruction is provided throughout the evening for those who are new to this style of dance.   Actors portraying characters from the literary classic provide improvisational performances throughout the evening to enhance the impression of attending Mr. Fezziwig's ball.  At intermission, a selection of traditional Victorian holiday foods will be provided for refreshment, and is included in the ticket price.

An opportunity for the public to learn some of the dances that will be featured at the ball, as well as try on costumes that are available for loan, is scheduled for December 3, 2010 at 8:00PM as part of the regular Salem Vintage Dance series held monthly at the Old Town Hall.  The cost for this informal event is $8, $5 for students and is payable at the door with no advance registration required.  Anyone who has purchased a ticket for Fezziwig's Ball, or purchases one at the door that evening, will receive free admission to the dance.

# # #

The Commonwealth Vintage Dancers is a Boston nonprofit dedicated to researching, teaching, and performing the social dances of the 19th and early 20th centuries. CVD hosts historical balls, dance and costume workshops, and Victorian teas and outings.

The Gordon College Institute for Public History unites and expands the offerings of the theatre group, History Alive! and the Museum Studies curriculum of the college's history department.  By providing lectures, classes, internships and interactive theatre at historic venues, the Institute engages students and the public in original programming about local history .