ABQ Regency Ball: So Much to Learn!

by Sandy Cannon
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Many of us have memories of our own high school prom.  Good memories?  Not so good memories?  My personal memories of prom left me wondering if there wasn’t something better that we could offer our kids.  When I heard about the ABQ Regency Ball, I knew I wanted my oldest son to attend, but I was not sure what I was getting into.

Six years later, I’ve been the director of the ball for three years and am already making plans for next year’s ball.  There are two main reasons I love the ball.  It is good, clean fun for our teens and there are many lessons they learn through the experience, other than just going to a dance.

What I was getting into was a beautiful evening of dressing up, learning dances, practicing etiquette, and great food (more details below).  It was also more than that.  As I have continued to be part of this special event, I have learned that the ball is a great way for our kids to practice loving one another and an experience that teaches them that high standards create excellence.

Photo by Maggie Martinescu Divine Creations captured by Maggie

​The kids find many ways to love one another.  Many of them help each other to prepare for the ball.  They encourage one another by helping them choose a flattering outfit and hairdo, they help each other learn dances, and they learn the “Code of Conduct” for the ball so that they will know how to behave.   Some of them work on setting-up the ballroom, preparing food, and cleaning-up.  At the dance, many of the young men will purposely wait until almost everyone has a partner so that they can ask a young lady who may not have been asked yet.  What a wonderful way to appropriately care for a neighbor!  We teach and encourage the young men to do this, but I celebrate each time I learn that one of them has practiced it.

Photo by Maggie Martinescu Divine Creations captured by Maggie

​Our goal is high standards in behavior, dress, dancing, decorations, and anything else we can think of.  Some of the kids find this goal to be cumbersome, at least at first.  A few do not see why dance practices are necessary.  Others want an exception to dress code.  What we inevitably find, however, is that our guests can appreciate the excellence of the evening; they enjoy everyone being dressed-up and they appreciate corporate knowledge of the dances.  It may be a lot of effort, but the end result is grand.  

​I have told our ball guests that this event is a very small taste of The Kingdom of God.   This year I came to a more clear understanding of why that is true.  Tickets are available to all.  (Yes, I realize we have waiting list issues, but please try to understand my metaphor!)  Once you have a ticket, you do what ticket-holders do:  go to practice, get an outfit, etc.  You help one another to prepare for the big event and spread the word to others.  You may not do it perfectly, you may not understand the purpose of each bit of instruction, but you have a confident hope that it will be wonderful on “that day” when it happens.  

​On that note, I encourage all of us to look for opportunities that are little tastes of The Kingdom.  We taste these by learning to love God, love our neighbor, and appreciate the hope of His grand event.  Our little ball is just one example of this, but I think it is a good one.  I am grateful for all of the things the LORD is teaching me as I endeavor to serve His people through this event.  

Photo by Maggie Martinescu Divine Creations captured by Maggie

For those of you not familiar with the ABQ Regency Ball, here are the basics.  It is a formal annual event for home schoolers age 13-20 where we do Regency dancing in an elegant ballroom and eat beautiful and delicious food.  “Regency” refers to the period in England during the early 1800s when The Prince Regent was ruling for the reigning but unfit monarch George III.  Just think Pride and Prejudice and you’ll get the idea.  The dances are choreographed and usually done in long lines.  That is why we have dance practices prior to the ball.  We teach the dances before the big event so our guests will be prepared.  The dance practices combined with the formal ball make a sort of “ball season” for our guests.  Here is a link to our dance assistants demonstrating one of the dances https://youtu.be/fT0j-mI4kiE  .  In the process the guests learn a bit about formal attire, and dance etiquette.  Boys do the asking, and girls say yes.  Dancers have a new partner for each dance.  We try to create a safe atmosphere where we all get practice being ladies and gentlemen.  Guests, boys and girls, who are hesitant at the beginning are almost always eager for the next dance to come.  Our website may be helpful if you’d like to know more about the ball.  https://sites.google.com/site/abqregencyball/  In addition to our formal spring ball, we try to host an informal ball in the summer or early fall.  We advertise via our mailing list, the ERC, and word of mouth.  ​

Sandy Cannon

Home schooling mom of four, and director of the ABQ Regency Ball.