Making Your Debut

Last night, Dan and I stepped out into Society (in our borrowed formal wear) when we were guests at the Narrandera Race Course Debutante Ball.

A Debutante Ball is a formal event where a young lady of about 16 or 17 is presented to society with pomp and circumstance. It is sort of like being at a wedding but without the marriage. The young ladies are in white ball gowns and are accompanied by a partner who is a young man of the same age. There are flowergirls and

pageboys, also dressed in white who assist the "Debs" and their partners.

Jarrod as a Pageboy.

When all of the guests (500 of us) are seated, music begins and the flower girls and page boys enter up the "aisle" in pairs and proceed to the centre of the ball room where the Matron of Honour introduces them. They do a ballroom spin and then are seated boys to the left and girls to the right. There were 4 pairs of flower girls and pageboys. Our friends, Kellie and Simon's son, Jarrod was a pageboy. They look adorable and play their parts to perfection. They are all kindergarten and grade one aged.

Then, the Debutantes and their partners proceed couple by couple, up to the centre of the ballroom. There were 10 girls being presented at this ball - there will be another 2 this season. When they arrive at the centre, the Matron of Honour, announces them and in Miss America style, gives a description of their age, school, parents and aspirations. The girls are then escorted by their partner to the Official that they are presented to. Then each Deb and partner stand at their respective sides until each is introduced. We knew one of the girls as her mother is a teacher at my school and she works with Dan at the Charles Sturt. You could tell she was enjoying the event immensely.

After all of the girls make their Debuts, they then participate in a choreographed formal traditional dance. Then, the girls, their partners and the flowergirls and pages participate in a second choreographed modern dance. This one was set to the theme of the night which was the movie, "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" (a movie I have not yet seen). It was fantastic - reminded me of that show where the wedding party works with a choreographer to make their first dance special and then surprises the guests!

Cutting the cake After that, the girls all "cut the cake" - yes, they actually cut a cake! And then the band plays and the party really begins. We socialized with the other guests, danced to the band and had our fair share of drink and "nibbles". We left at 12:30 on the courtesy bus which dropped us at our door - fabulous! Thanks Simon and Kellie for inviting us to be a part of such a lovely Australian tradition. It was an experience that won't soon be forgotten.