Balls (dance party)

thumb|220px|Mosaic of the Last Supper in Monreale Cathedral

dance party

most formal style of full-length woman's evening dress

card used to record the names with whom she or he intends to dance each successive dance at a formal ball

island in Rio de Janeiro

annual banquet after the Nobel Prize ceremony

ball

thumb|right|The ETH main hall during the Polyball (2005) The Polyball is the most prestigious public event of the ETH Zurich. It has a long tradition since the 1880s and takes place annually at the end of November. The Polyball is the biggest decorated ball in Europe with approximately 9000 visitors and is a classic dance event.

costume ball hosted by last Emperor Nicholas II of Russia in Saint Petersburg, February 1903

Boombal (pl. Boombals) is a relatively recent phenomenon of folk dance parties in Belgium, originating in the French bal folk. The partygoers indulge in pair, ring, line, and string dances such as the waltz, polka, An Dro, etc. adapted from the French bal folk scene. The events are seen as a more social and enjoyable alternative to the individualistic dancing that is often seen in modern clubs. There is a very low barrier of entrance due to the emphasis on having fun rather than meticulously performed and complicated dances.