Messages

Any chance of learning a set choreographed dance like the Congress of Vienna or the Sir Roger De Cloverly.

Sadly to say no since what you see in the dance schedule is what we can offer.  But the good news is whenever I have the time I can teach you the Congress of Vienna since I attended many Dickens fair, PEERS events and Gaskell Ball.

If I am wearing a full suit and pants will I still have to wear dress shoes? I know it's a bit tasteless to show up in converse but that looks like my only option as of now.

Yes you still have to wear dress shoes.

Wait, no shoes higher than 3"? Is this a new rule? I've worn 5" heels to the ball every year in the past with no problems at all. :< I don't think I own anything shorter than ~4"!

I believe it might be a new rule since we either are gonna be on the safe side while dancing on the floor.

I feel you but there's always sacrifice involve especially when I'm apart of B&W Ball department and wanting to watch the Masquerade.

I personally don't think that Fanime would lose money just because Masquerade was moved on Sunday to conflict with B&W Ball.  Masquerade used to be hold on sunday couple years ago!  Musicfest and B&W Ball had that kind of a concern as well couple years ago but it is possible to check both event if either you sacrifice your time sticking around at Musicfest or B&W Ball was extended for the people coming back from Musicfest.  Sacrifice and choices is always everywhere that everyone should really prepare for that if you don't like the change!  I can list so many examples that I had to sacrifice that it didn't matter to me and yet I still had a great time.  I had to sacrifice staffing for SacAnime winter to check out AnimaLA and I had a great time.  I had to sacrifice watching Haruko Momoi concert for B&W Ball and it was great.  I had to miss out the Masquerade to run MvC3 tournament during the last AOD and I still had a great time because I got to watch epic matches to make up for it.  If the event is set we always have to come up with a solution and taking advantage of our time.  To me it was sad that I'm probably going to sacrifice Masquerade but I'm fine with that decision since I'm now I'm apart of the B&W Ball department to make sure the event goes great for everyone who attends.  It's all about choosing wisely how you want to have fun and that's why we make our schedule in advance.  Just like MPLe said the time the time hasn't been decided.  But I'm sure that their should be enough time to attend both event and do some major preparation on planning that I'm sure we'll have a great time.

And plus if you move the B&W Ball to saturday, that will screw up the dance lesson schedule and there wont be enough time to practice many different dances before the event.  I gonna have to say NO on moving B&W Ball to Saturday.

personally, i like the polka.  Like in The King and I ("Shall We Dance" song where Anna teaches the king to dance).  Heck, we could at least use that song.  It's a great song.

I agree, we should include polka. It's SOOOOOOOO much fun XD

Yeah I know Polka is fun since I've done that in Dickens Fair, PEERS event, and Gaskell Ball.  But damn!  That dance is far more dangerous to perform at the dance floor if you don't have enough space.  That dance is more dangerous than people claiming V Waltz if not taught correctly and plus its probably most tiring than most of the dance we're teaching and assisting.  I'm gonna have to say no for that one since its not safe to teach people and do that around on the dance floor.

Is "crossplaying" allowed at the black and white ball? Like, could my friend who's a guy go in a formal/elegant ballgown? or would that be against the rules?

"crossplaying" is perfectly fine as long they meet the dress code.

Huh, sounded a lot like one. Well, I'd still like to request it, despite the eh...lack of classical goodness. ^^;;

Trust me on this one on dancing to waltz.  It has to be 3 count.  When you do waltz you form a half box in 3 count and the finish the other half in 3 counts.  If you can't feel the 3 count in a steady rhythm, it's not a waltz otherwise it's something else like either a night club 2 step or Borelo depending on the music.  I took ballroom dance classes and done a lots of waltzing.  Don't worry about the song you requested I think its a good song to slow dance to though especially I would have that time with my girlfriend.

Hallo~ :D Second ball and my last dress was formal as can be. Now I'm wondering about my idea for this year :) Help please? ^^;

http://www.unique-vintage.com/preorderteal-collard-halter-drop-waist-prom-dress-p-10957.html

It's a full length gown but the cut on it makes me curious as to whether it can work or not. Thanks for your time! ^^

Looks fine to me.

I'll be there and hope you guys can stop by at the gameroom and hang out with us whenever we have the time.

In the spirit of anime, video games and Final Fantasy--I request this song~! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNefNLOHVYk -- Eyes on me by Faye Wong. Right from Final Fantasy 8. :3 It's such a pretty song for a waltz no? :D

You can't waltz to this song since I can't feel the 3 count but more towards nightclub 2 step.

Unfortunately I didn't get to stay at the Ball long enough to take in the full experience. 3 of the 4 boys in our group neglected to listen to my reminders of wearing proper attire and thought that black sneakers with their dress shirts and pants would be good enough ^^;

This year I'm definitely reminding them before we leave for the convention.  

Let them know that we are very strict with the dress code even towards shoes that we will turn them down.  Don't say we didn't warn you guys especially we repeated this rule many time.

I prefer teaching/dancing quickstep than v.waltz. People tend to go crazy because v.waltz is what they see in movies and stuff. In addition, quickstep is easier to navigate on the dance floor especially with basics and lock steps.

Its all about crowd control if you don't want people to go all crazy and stuff unless they know what they're doing.  Plus from the poll says alots of people want V Waltz is one of the most requested one and sadly quickstep is not mentioned nor brought up on the emails i'm receiving regarding the upcoming B&W Ball.  We just have to figure out how we're suppose to control the crowd and teach the most safest and give ground rules towards learning dance.
You just have to check out Dickens Fair because they there is no dance lessons to learn V Waltz.  Just alots of people who helps out from the Fezziwig group giving assistance and teach the people who's never gone out there how to do it.  From most of the time there, I rarely see people go crazy out there.  Just people going with the flow in rotary traffic.  And at Gaskell Ball they taught as how they do the most basic V Waltz and I thought it is very convenient and set ground rules about the dance floors.

How about Quickstep? It shouldn't be more dangerous than Viennese Waltz, which is on the list.

IMO
I just don't think V Waltz is that dangerous if you focus on the basic than being more technical or exact like the Ballroom scene from what I've seen at the Gaskell Ball and Dickens fair.

[Baten Kaitos]

I surely can't request all of these, so I have some waltz suggestions for you to look into. Considering the nature of Fanime, all of these have some connection to a Japanese video game or anime.

Baten Kaitos

To the End of the Journey of Glittering Stars - Motoi Sakuraba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XARPxxfAeUc
An elegant waltz, but the accent on the first note is subtle, and might cause some confusion with beginners.

Final Fantasy VIII

Fragments of Memories - Nobuo Uematsu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8GmlKEKvjc
The song changes tempo midway through, which may confuse some people.

Final Fantasy X

To Zanarkand - Nobuo Uematsu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lP_anjF6rA
A solo piano piece, very easy to dance to.

Final Fantasy XI

The Grand Duchy of Jeuno - Naoshi Mizuta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTDCzDgKSMY
When I think of a fancy Ball, I think of a song like this.

Eternal Sonata, Tom and Jerry, and some 15 different animes.

Grand Valse Brillante - Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2r7skqSkNM&feature=watch_response_rev
Only play this if you want to upset people on the floor, or make me happy.

What do you think?

IMO

To the End of the Journey of Glittering Stars
Might be little too tricky for the beginner like you stated.

Fragments of Memories
Sounds pretty nice to dance to although I still prefer Waltz to the Moon which went very well when I was at the Masquerade ball during AX 2009, great for V Waltz which I really enjoy alot.  I think the Ball needs more room and variety for other games and anime.

To Zanarkand
I prefer the Orchestra version over the piano solo.  Has more instrument involved and gives me that nice feel while dancing while it might need some adjustment for the ball.  I think this would be a great addition.

The Grand Duchy of Jeuno
Doesn't feel like I'm at the Fancy Ball.  Feels more like I'm just chilling inside of a fancy hallway of a mansion or just standing aside from the fancy dance floor than dancing romantically with my partner.


In terms of Waltz.  We just have to organize about if all the con goers are ready to learn V Waltz and keep the dance floor safe as possible otherwise we might be looking for much slower waltz tempo.

I know I'll be helping out people on EC Swing and Waltz.

how about lindy hop? and if you need any teachers I'd love to help teach it!

eeeeee.........
From my experience learning Lindy hop from my swing dance class.  I don't think Lindy hop is appropriate to teach most attendees because I felt like the learning curve is tricky.  I'm still learning Lindy Hop from my Swing dance and takes much longer to get the hang over if you don't learn the basics of EC Swing.

I was at least two of the AX Masq balls and didn't like the idea.  For me it took way too much time (I believe at least an hour) and killed the mood of the room.  Granted, I'm sure that a substantial number of people would like the idea but I really wouldn't support it as a main event for the Ball itself.  If it got run as a side activity and they allowed the winners to be presented at some point during the Ball...then I might find it palatable.    

At first I thought that would be nice for Fanime's B&W Ball.  Then I think about it from Okach said that if that I would like to see that happen as side activity and present it at one point at the ball.  One of my suggestion of doing that on a side activity would be stage zero.  But only problem is who's going to help judge? But I don't like the idea of asking for help from different department such as Masquerade since they have their own thing to do.

[FanimeCon Prop Rules & Limitations]

FanimeCon Prop Rules & Limitations

• Some props are allowed conditionally:
  - Signs which are an integral part of a cosplay, and which an actual character carries may be peace-bonded.

So does that mean that my Brain Age cosplay need to be peace-bonded?
http://www.cosplay.com/costume/292689/

I would consider your particular sign to be clothing, rather than a prop... because of the way it's used.

Thanks for clarifying.

Oh man....... don't get any ideas from comic con.  I have a bad feeling about next year's fanime....

[FanimeCon Prop Rules & Limitations]

FanimeCon Prop Rules & Limitations

• Some props are allowed conditionally:
  - Signs which are an integral part of a cosplay, and which an actual character carries may be peace-bonded.

So does that mean that my Brain Age cosplay need to be peace-bonded?
http://www.cosplay.com/costume/292689/