The Beethoven Ball
Come and dance the waltzes and contradances of the early nineteenth-century Viennese ballroom to the music
of Beethoven and his contemporaries!
Taking place in the lovely ballroom of the San Jose Woman’s Club,
the Beethoven Ball features live music for your dancing from the
SJSU Symphony Orchestra,
and performances by
Dance Through Time and The Academy of Danse Libre.
Dances will include contradances
reconstructed from nineteenth-century sources by
Mistress of Ceremonies Joan Walton.
Coming
APRIL 24, 2007!
Living in History through
Dancing & Music
The Beethoven Ball celebrates the dance music from the composer's lifetime! The Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies and the American Beethoven Society present an exciting evening filled with nineteenth-century dance accompanied by the San Jose State Symphony Orchestra, bringing the elegance of Beethoven's Vienna to life.
The Event
Music
Stirring Musical Performances
Experience live the music of Beethoven and his contemporaries played by the
San Jose State Symphony Orchestra
in the gorgerous surroundings of the historic
San Jose Woman's Club
allowing you to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of early nineteenth-century Vienna.
Dancing
Entertaining Dances
Engage in the delightful waltzes and contredances of nineteeth-century Vienna as we transport you back to a time
of elegant gatherings and grand balls!
No previous dance experience is required!
And all dances are taught and called at the ball.
For neophytes there is also a pre-event dance workshop before the ball.
Romance
Another Time . . . Another Place!
Experience the romance of Beethoven's Vienna through an event where period costumes from the early nineteenth century are
encouraged, but not required!
This is the era of Jane Austen--born in the same year as Beethoven--and the time of the Regency in England.
Community
Dancing in Harmony
Join us to celebrate our vibrant community of music, dance, and history lovers, who come together every two years* to revel in
the beauty of Beethoven's era,
ensuring an unforgettable evening.
*The 2026 ball was so successful that we are holding the next ball a year sooner on
April 24, 2027!