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Each year in late January the Frazier International History Museum in Louisville, Kentucky sponsors an historical ball. All time periods are welcome and folks who portray all of these time periods don their best apparel for the event. At the very first Frazier Ball in 2005 there were only a handful of eighteenth century re-enactors and the ball was held right in the first floor welcoming area of the museum. This years ball had almost 150 registered participants. It is now held on the top floor of the museum with plenty of room for the dancers. Over the last five years the participants have sometimes changed and the time periods have varied. Or I suspect some of the participants have remained the same and the time periods they portray have changed.
Early on there were more medieval types. Boasting swords and armor and ladies dressed with a renaissance feel. The most noticeable change this year was an influx of cowboys with spurs, cowboy hats and sixshooters. Not only is there an array of colors and materials and classes but what really becomes interesting is during the dances. Although a couple dressed in 1812 clothing starts out together, these type dances continually rotate partners. Partners are continually moving ahead to a new partner. So the 1812 soldier might now be partnered with Rosie the Riveter dressed circa WWII. The Civil War soldier has moved on to partner with a colonial gown and wig and the cowboy might be partnered with the 1812 woman. All good fun and an amazing site.
The evening started with a cocktail hour between 6 and 7 pm Skipjack took center stage at 7pm and the dancing began. I noticed some serious dancers among the crowd. These folks study period dance and are always on hand at these events. For those not use to dancing there was a practice session for anyone interested at 3 in the afternoon. So dancer or not - there was no reason not to take to the floor
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