Officers' Ball

The officers' ball , also: "Alt-Neustädter Ball", is a dance ball for the officers of the Austrian Armed Forces in the great ballroom of the Vienna Hofburg .

Around 3500 visitors take part in the ball every year. It takes place on the third Friday of the year. The Federal President of the Republic of Austria , who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Austrian Armed Forces, bears the protection of honor .

history

Entry of the young women and young men committee

The officers' ball is an event that has been held since 1926 and is considered one of the highlights of the Vienna ball season . The uniforms from all over the world are intended to illustrate how the armed forces and their officers are embedded in Austrian society and the international community.

From 1926 to 1938 the event took place in the rooms of the Vienna Hofburg. In 1956, at a time of economic boom, the ball continued under the patronage of the Federal Ministry for National Defense in the Sofiensaal in Vienna . In 1981 the dance ball returned to the magnificent premises of the Hofburg.

The Alt-Neustadt Association founded in 1919, an association of graduates of the Maria Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt, has organized the ball since it was founded in 1926.

Due to the success of the 1960s and 1970s, a ball committee was created that has been in charge of the ball since 1977. It is made up of officers from the Federal Ministry of Defense and Sports , the Vienna Military Command and the Alt-Neustadt Graduate Association, as well as the militia.

Highlights and program

Vadim Garbuzov and Kathrin Menzinger dance at the officers' ball

One of the highlights of the ball is the opening ceremony by the young women’s and men’s committee, consisting of officer candidates from the first year of the military academy. For several years now, the Austrian ensigns of the Theresian Military Academy have been supported by comrades from other countries. This makes the internationality of the ball clear at the opening. In 2014, pupils - pupils from the military secondary school in Wiener Neustadt - had the opportunity to take part in the opening for the first time. Militia officers and militia officer candidates of the Federal Army could also register to open the event. This emphasizes the connection between the militia stand and the presence stand in the Austrian Armed Forces. The opening choreography will be rehearsed by the Elmayer dance school .

Up to ten music groups provide entertainment and dancing in 23 halls, including a disco . Shows and dance performances as well as guests from home and abroad make the ball a social highlight of the city of Vienna . The officers' ball is not only a meeting place for Viennese society, but also for European politics, business and society.

The musical program included performances by Andy Lee Lang , the Rounder Girls, James Cottriall , Eric Papilaya , Sandra Pires and Waterloo , among others .

During the ball there is an opportunity to dance with dance professionals. The army athletes and dancing stars Vadim Garbuzov and Kathrin Menzinger attended the officers' ball for the fourth time in 2015.

motto

Saxophonist of the Guard Music of the Austrian Armed Forces

Every year the officers' ball takes place under a certain motto. The mottos are often based on the Viennese waltz tradition .

In 2011 the ball was dedicated to Carl Michael Ziehrer , whose waltz walk in was the motto of the evening.
In 2012 the ball presented itself under the motto “Gold and Silver”, those precious metals that can also be found in the form of ranks, badges and medals on uniforms.
In 2013 the motto was “Tactful”, on the one hand related to the music, on the other hand also to the tactful interaction with one another.
2014, the ball was held under the motto "A Waltz Dream", inspired by the melody softly, softly it sounds like a dream of Oscar Straus .
In 2015 the ball was dedicated to the anniversary “60 years of the Federal Army”.

Web links

Individual evidence

↑ Michael Mayerböck: January 21, 2011 Vienna Hofburg. in: Der Soldat, No. 2/2011 of January 21, 2011, p. 1.
↑ www.ballderoffiziere.at History of the Officers' Ball.Retrieved December 12, 2011.
↑ 60 years of the Armed Forces - musical prelude to the anniversary year . Retrieved February 1, 2015.

[1] Michael Mayerböck: January 21, 2011 Vienna Hofburg. in: Der Soldat, No. 2/2011 of January 21, 2011, p. 1.

[2] www.ballderoffiziere.at History of the Officers' Ball.Retrieved December 12, 2011.

[3] 60 years of the Armed Forces - musical prelude to the anniversary year . Retrieved February 1, 2015.