Vienna Ball in Sofia – the tradition continues

Support for “Ela I Ti” Foundation, which takes care of creating a more accessible environment for people with disabilities, unites organizers and guests of the Vienna Ball in Sofia, which has become a tradition. This year, the event is held on February 21. For the 25th time, the dance couples will be carried away by the rhythm of the waltz. This year also marks 30 years since the first edition of the ball, held in 1996 – one of the most difficult economic periods for the country after the democratic changes.

Three decades ago, the event was held at the initiative of the Austrian Embassy in Sofia, as the hall at the Military Club was rented for the purpose. Like every new thing, the ball was met with interest and enthusiasm. However, there was a break, to which a special chapter is dedicated in the book "History of the Vienna Balls in Sofia", which one of the organizers of the event and a member of the Vienna Club, Prof. Rumen Neykov, has already written as the book is about to be published soon:

"1996 was the time of the greatest inflation. And in such a time we had a ball,” Neykov recalls. “This was one of the reasons and the second was that the diplomats and their wives left for other countries and shortly after, in 2001, we from Vienna Club-Sofia began to be responsible for the organization of the event. I assure you that to preserve something in Bulgaria for so many years, even if it is an annual event, is very, very difficult."

In organizing the event in Sofia, the Vienna Club strives to respect the established tradition of balls in the Austrian capital, which dates back to 1815.

Music is at the center of the celebration on February 21 in one of the major hotels in Sofia:

"The orchestra we work with is very famous. This year it includes colleagues from the Sofia Opera, Sofia Philharmonic and the Music Academy, while the conductor is Nayden Todorov. We start with Martin Iliev, who recently performed the roles of Parsifal and Tannhäuser in the National Opera. Within the framework of our ball, he will be in the role of Don Juan. In this way, we will also celebrate the 270th anniversary of the birth of the great genius - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Then something very interesting will be heard - a march dedicated to Prince Ferdinand, composed by Johann Strauss Jr. Dancers from ‘Arabesque Ballet’, with choreographer Angelina Gavrilova, will dance to it. All this is part of the beginning of the evening. Then the waltzes follow and later a special band will play on stage, conducted by Christo Kralev, who has travelled especially for this event from the German city of Wiesbaden."

The role of the debutantes of the ball, who traditionally dance first, goes for the third time to students from the 91st German Language School in Sofia. The works they dance to are two - Fächer-Polonaise by Carl Michael Ziehrer and the waltz "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" by Johann Strauss Jr.