Under the vaulted ceilings of the Hofburg, defying the ravages of time, unfolds the quiet yet persistent story of a nation that remembers, of music that unites, and of a tradition that doesn’t fade W hen winter covers Vi- enna’s rooftops and snow silences the din of the city, chande- liers burn brightly be- hind the tall windows of luxurious pal- aces as the imperial city enters its ball season. A special story among those magical evenings is represented by the Saint Sava Ball, which is one of the old- est such gatherings, having stood the test of time and still bringing together numerous attendees. The magnificent Hofburg Imperial Pal- ace will host the 27 th Humanitarian Saint Sava Ball, organised by Vienna’s Serbian Centre association, on 6 th Feb- ruary this year. That evening will see tradition and the modern spirit meet once again, under those same vault- ed ceilings. That first occurred back in 1846, when the Serbian Quadrille re- sounded through the halls of the then imperial Vienna for the first time. Guests are said to have danced like nev- er before that evening. Serbian Prince Miloš Obrenović, then a regular guest
of Viennese salons, wished for the spirit of his people to dance under the vaults of this European capital. He commis- sioned a composition from Johann Strauss II, the then ‘King of the Waltz’, ordering that he weave recognisable Serbian melodies into the beats. And so was born a piece of music that brought together two cultures in a single dance. The waltz and the kolo dance came to- gether in melodies, and that meeting of two cultures has remained forever in- scribed in the history of music and Eu- ropean salons. Like today, back then balls weren’t merely evenings of entertainment, but rather social events and meeting points for diplomats, artists and world trav- ellers. In silk gowns and tailcoats, ac- quaintances were made, ideas ex- changed and culture created. Vienna was the capital of dance, and the Saint Sava Ball was part of Europe’s great ball scene. Following a historical hiatus, the ball was restored in 1998 and has since been bringing together members of Austria’s Serbian community, friends of Serbia and lovers of tradition from across Europe. It is held nowadays at the Hofburg, the former principal residential palace of the Habsburg dynasty – a building that recalls emperors, ladies-in-waiting, hushed whispers behind fluttering fans and music that shaped an era. “When you step into the Hofburg, you feel how history whispers,” agree attendees.
Special preparations are still made ahead of the annual Saint Sava Ball. Gowns are carefully selected and tail- coat suits are prepared weeks in ad- vance. Many of the rules have changed over the course of history, but the spir- it of ballroom elegance remains un- changed. Young ladies used to carry small booklets known as dance cards, which were used to record “reserva- tions” of dances with attending gen- tlemen. If a young lady’s booklet was full, she was surely among the most de- sirable dance partners in the hall that evening. During the evening of the modern Saint Sava Ball, as many as 16 halls of Hofburg Palace resound with orchestral sounds, dance steps, festive concert programmes and performances of Serbian traditional dances intertwin- ing simultaneously. However, the Saint Sava Ball was never just a glittering evening. Ideas of com- munity, the spirit of Saint Sava and mu- tual care have always been at its core. That’s why, to this day, alongside tra- dition and culture, this ball carries a strong humanitarian message. The Saint Sava Ball is an enduring memory, a coming together of generations and a bridge between centuries. From the Ser- bian Quadrille and Prince Miloš to the modern ball evening, the same steps have been repeated for almost two cen- turies. And each year, time and again, Vienna becomes a Serbian fairytale for an evening...
Tradition » Tradicija | 63
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