LE BAL DES VAMPIRES
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Alameda Elks Lodge
2255 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501
Dancing on Two Floors
Doors Open: 6:30pm
Waltz Lesson: 7:00pm in the Grand Ballroom
Formal vintage ballroom dancing: 7:45 – midnight
Featured Band: Bangers & Mash
Dracula’s Daughter Discotheque & Bar: 6:30 – midnight
Tickets: $17.50 in advance (by October 25)
$25.00 at the door
Ball Website: www.peers.org/vamp08.html


Waltz the night away in a beautiful candlelit ballroom with the San Francisco Bay Area’s most glamorous Undead at the 15th Annual Le Bal des Vampires held once again in the Alameda Elks Lodge, a stately neo-Colonial mansion with a stunning Edwardian ballroom, a photogenic Edwardian parlor and staircase, and a film noir style discotheque.

Suggested costume is evening dress of the century and country of your “rebirth.” This may include dress uniform, period costume (authentic or fantasy), vintage attire, or modern evening dress. There is no dress code for the ball (We certainly don’t expect Spike to attend in black tie), but you will see some of the most gorgeous and creative costumes of the social season at Le Bal des Vampires.

This year there will once again be simultaneous dancing on two separate floors:

Our band in the elegant upstairs ballroom is the stylish but always dashing chamber ensemble Bangers & Mash. As usual, haunting waltzes dominate the program, but the evening will feature a variety of dance music from across the centuries – from 18th century Baroque contredances to 19th century Victorian rotary and Viennese waltzes, polkas, and mazurkas; to elegant early 20th century tangos, blues, and fox trots and even some classic rock and roll Swing. Please note that the band’s first dance set will start at 7:45 pm sharp – 15 minutes earlier than usual. The dance sets will be unusually long, even by Bangers & Mash’s high standards, so if you do plan to dance, please be certain to wear shoes or boots you can actually dance in.

For those preferring a more modern style of dance music and free-style dancing, join us in Le Bal des Vampires’ Dracula’s Daughter’s Discotheque in the hall’s Ratskellar for a wonderfully varied repertoire of music to stir the blood and spirit from 6:30 p.m. to Midnight. Hosted by principal DJ, Dark Moon, the disco also features a no-host (cash) bar and light refreshments for our mortal guests.

Our half-time show in the ballroom is a performance by the celebrated Le Theatre des Vampires. Not recommended for the faint of heart but highly recommended for fans of the genre. Also featured are special guest performances by the inimitable Vampire Lestat and the always amazing Alameda Vintage Dancers.

For further information, please call (510) 522-1731 or email peers@peers.org. To order advance tickets to the ball, please send a check to PEERS, 2144 B Buena Vista Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501. To order tickets online via PayPal, please go to the ball website at www.peers.org/vamp08.html for instructions. Deadline for advance ticket purchases is Saturday, October 25.