Getting All Frocked Up

If there is one big event that many over-worked, highly-stressed postgraduates look forward to, it would be the annual ball jointly organised by the University of Melbourne and Monash University postgraduate associations. Each September on a Friday evening that marks the start of two-week, non-teaching period, your regular bookworms, research geekoids, university bigwigs, normal students and academics, transform into real human beings whom you will find actually adept in socialising and mingling (and dancing even - on or off the beat is another story). It's interesting how one starts to see another in a different light once placed in a different setting (*oooh, person so and so is groovy after all!*). I would admit that I very much enjoy these postgraduate balls so even if my tenure as a postgraduate student has recently ended, it didn't stop me from going to this year's event.

To me, no function could be worse than a disorganised, rowdy, messy one (i.e. college balls? *no offense meant*). I have been to ones where more than half of the crowd ended up badly sloshed resulting to shameful behaviour; where the dance floor was literally covered with broken glass and spilt beer, making it impossible for the non-indulgent, responsible, social drinker to walk (forget dancing!) without slipping or stepping on shards of glass. In the end, one would go away disgruntled and wondering why the hell did he/she pay $69 to watch unruly people being forcefully thrown out of the ball by bouncers? I could get that sort of entertainment by watching footy on television (and it's free!). Oh well!

So, what makes the UMPA postgraduate balls different? Aside from better behaved people and the absence of hazards in the form of either violent bodies or sharp glasses, the UMPA balls are very well-organised, with programs and the music/band well picked. And yet, the highlights, in my opinion, is the choice of venue, the selection of a theme, and that extra move to make the event stand out and unique from all previous balls. These postgraduate balls are themed events where part of the excitement is playing along and fitting into the motif. This year's was "Titanic," as corny as it may sound, the venue very well made up for it. Held at the Melbourne Aquarium, not one guest was not at awe at how beautiful the place is, especially with that huge cylindrical tank filled with tropical fish and corals in the centre of the hall, and the other tanks with a view of sharks, stingrays, and other forms of sea life. While it is not exactly compulsory to be "Jack" or "Rose" or the propeller of the ship to attend the ball, it is quite interesting and fun that many still go out of their way and exercise their creative minds to find the perfect attire or accessory that would fit the theme. This year's male winner of the best dressed wore on his head a styrofoam-made iceberg that is battery operated to puff out smoke.

For three consecutive years now, I have gone to the postgraduate ball. In 2003, my first postgraduate ball, the theme was excitingly Latin and set in a spectacular marquee venue in the Melbourne Zoo! The sound of the Pachuco Playboys band and the images of people salsa-ing still linger in my head. Then it was a change from wild Latin dancing to a medieval setting of a masquerade ball in 2004, with again a venue that is beyond our expectation - the beautiful Regent Theatre, its palatial ambience truly fit with the spirit of the medieval era. Come 2005, as I have narrated shortly, the Titanic theme in a special aquarium venue. We wonder how else could it get better next year? :-)

For snapshots of the events...

September 19, 2003

El Baile del Postgrad
Melbourne Zoo

* The lady with the elaborate hat, parading as Carmen Miranda, won best dressed.
*Her male counterpart has an EVEN MORE elaborate accoutrement on his head... apparently he was ALSO Carmen Miranda *guffaw*.
* Still "just friends" with A at this time...

September 10, 2004

Masquerade Ball
Regent Theatre, Melbourne

* No longer "just friends" with A...
* We made our own masks!... on the afternoon before the ball. It took longer than I expected... we were a tad bit late for the ball.
* My good friend S also made her own, with mask and a pair of sheer fairy wings not so obvious in the picture. She was one of the finalists for best-dressed.

September 16, 2005

Titanic Ball
Melbourne Aquarium

* Before, during, and after the ball.
* Ain't my friend (in the blue dress) very "Cleopatra"-like?