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Salient: An organ of student opinion at Victoria University, Wellington. Vol. 23, No. 5. Wednesday, June 15, 1960
Hop in Evening Dress
Hop in Evening Dress
Those accustomed to balls such as the Charity, or Hospital Ball, can only shudder at the spectacle which greets them on arrival at the Capping Ball—supposed social event of the university year; the sight is indeed novel, for where else does one and a Hop In Evening Dress—no better than an ordinary dance and perhaps a little worse. The whole atmosphere is out of sympathy for dancing and a pleasant evening.
ZB Request Session
The ball locks dignity of any kind and the music has the air of a ZB request session. What are the causes? The following is a suggested analysis of this sad, sick, state of affairs.
| (i) | The hall is too crowded. This means that the floor is jammed, but also, and more important, there is very little room to sit with a party of friends. The result is that many move into the circle, which contains tiered theatre seats in rows. |
| (ii) | Unrestricted admission, leading to the presence of non-academic types. This is a capping ball, not just another dance. |
| (iii) | Music. For those who come to dance the programme is not suitable. No doubt the University Jazz Club got a great kick out of their performance, but their music was quite unsatisfactory for dancing—and to many an intolerable intrusion. They are apparently unaware that music for dancing must be carefully selected—and contain a melody. Nondescript music in four-four time for long periods is tedious, although it possibly suits the rock-and-rollers who display little discrimination in such matters. |
| (iv) | Lack of decor, apart from potted jungle on the edge of the stage. |
Proposals
It is seen that the main trouble lies in the numbers attending and in the fact that the Ball is held after the ceremony and in the same hall. The remedy for this is to confine the capping ball, as such, to graduates and staff, with partners; further that it be held on a different date—the most suit able being after the graduands supper, which could be made buffet from 5-7.30.
There is no need to deny others; the pleasure of an end-of-term. dance or ball; another dance could be held—with no complimentary tickets—on, say, the Saturday night.
Finally, the Capping Ball dance programme should include a wider selection of dances.
—R.W.H.
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