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Der Zuckerbäckerball unterscheidet sich grundlegend von den klassischen Hofburgbällen. Er findet im Austria Center (VIC) statt, welches ihm schon von Haus aus eine ungezwungene, und einigen Gästen zufolge auch freundlichere Atmosphäre gibt. Die Ballgäste sind auch im Schnitt jünger als in der Hofburg. Es ist jedoch amüsant zu beobachten, dass die Tänzer, die es am längsten auf dem Parkett aushalten, überwiegend die älteren sind.

junges Publikum am Ball

Das Parken beim Austria Center ist übermäßig teuer, für einen ganzen Ballabend bis zu 10 €. Man könnte vermutlich auch auf der anderen Seite der Wagramer Straße parken oder mit der U1 zur Station Kaisermühlen-VIC fahren. Danach hat man nur noch einen kurzen Gehweg bis zum Eingang Diese Variante ist sehr empfehlenswert, wenn man die ganze Nacht am Ball verbringt.
Die Damenspende bestand aus fünf zarten Trüffel-Pralinen. Zwei Rolltreppen brachten die Gäste in den Hauptsaal in den ersten Stock. Ein zentraler Raum mit einem großzügigen Tanzparkett, dessen Qualität recht gut und durchaus nicht rutschig war, wie es in vergangenen Jahren in der Hofburg manchmal der Fall auftrat, verführte zum Tanzen. Die Eröffnung, choreographiert von Herrn Mühlsiegel beeindruckte trotz ihrer Schlichtheit vorrallem durch die große Anzahl an Eröffnungspaaren: 126 Paare (vor 2 Jahren waren es noch 106 Paare). Ich denke, dass somit die Veranstalter viele Jugendliche für Bälle begeistern können und sich zukünftige Ballbesucher daraus entwickeln. Weiters belebte das junge Publikum mit seiner jugendlichen Energie den Ball.

126 Paare zählendes Eröffnungskomitee

Einzug der Ehrengäste

Die musikalische Darbietungen erweckten in mir das Gefühl, dass ein Hang zu österreichisch gefärbten Country-Musik bestand. Besonders häufig wurden Walzer und Samba gespielt, wobei die einzelnen Stücke aus irgendeinem Grund schneller gespielt wurden, als es für die dazupassenden Tänze normal gewesen wäre (z.B. man hörte öfter schnell gespielte Rumbas als langsame).

Eröffnungswalzer

Abgesehen vom Hauptsaal luden weitere kleinere Säle zur Unterhaltung ein. So gab es eine Glücksspiel-Ecke, in der man für 10 Euro 4 Spiele spielen und mit etwas Geschick kleine Preise gewinnen konnte. Dazu zählte unter anderem ein Golfspiel. Beim letzten Spiel, ein Glücksrad, konnte man eine Torte gewinnen, und falls nicht, zumindnest ein Glas Sekt als Trostpreis. Besonders positiv möchte ich erwähnen, dass die Betreuer der Spiele sehr nett waren und sich wirklich freuten, wenn man gewann.

Geschicklichkeitsspiel

Glücksrad

Tombolapreise

Die drei Ballongruppen

Ballonregen

Erwischt!

Csaba's Tanzpartnerin

The Zuckerbacker ball has a very different flavour from Hofburg balls, so to speak.  It's held at the Austria Center (VIC) which automatically gives it a more informal type of atmosphere, and makes it friendlier, according to some.  It also has a less formal atmosphere.  The ball attendees are, on the whole, a far younger crowd than at the Hofburg.

It is therefore amusing, that the people who last the longest on the dance floor seem to be the older set. Parking at the venue (VIC) is very expensive, 10 euros if one lasts the whole ball.  Presumably one could park on the other side of Wagrammer Strasse (though I've not investigated this variant) or take the U1 to Kaisermuhlen-VIC and have a very short walk to the entrance (this is a good way to do it if you are staying all night).  After the coat check, there were 5 truffles for the ladies, and two flights of escalators for all, to get to the main events.

There is one central room with a sizeable dance floor, and the quality of the floor was quite good, and not slick at all, as the Hofburg has tended to be (though the floor quality at the Hofburg has been fine this year).  The opening, choreographed by Herr Mühlsiegl, while particularly simple, had the most couples of any opening I've seen: 126 (It was already large two years ago at 106 couples).  I think that this is tremendously clever on the part of the ball, because all these people opening for the first time will have a huge positive sentiment toward the ball in the future, and they provide a youthful energy in the present (until they run out of steam, that is).

My impression of the music is that it there is a tendancy toward (USA) country with an Austrian twang.  Especially common were waltzes and Sambas. All the music tends to be play with a faster than normal beat for whatever the appropriate dance (eg. usually you get a fast rumba, rarely a slow one). There are several "nooks" in this ball, which provide some distraction.  There is a game of chance section where for 10 euros, you can play 4 games of chance, where there may be some skill involved, too, such as hitting a golf ball into a hole on an incline.  The final one is a wheel of fortune where you can win a torte, and if not, you get a glass of sekt.  And the people working there, actually like it when you win.  It's very friendly.

There is also a lottery of sorts for confections. You must get these early because they do sell out.  For 10 euros you get a ticket, and you will get something - I got a sweetbread, but it could be cake or chocolates or a bottle of sekt - you get the idea.

There is a disco and bar area for the youngsters, and I much prefer it in comparison to the old Hofburg one, and perhaps even to the current Hofburg one.  Cocktails are about 10 euros, but the ones I saw were generously full. One of the highlights of the ball is that they have three sets of smaller balloons tied up high in the rafters, and they release the three groups at set times in the evening.  Except they don't tell you which group will be released when. Some small number of these balloons contains a coin which can be exchanged for a cake.

The vying for these can be really cutthroat, and usually at least several women will mount their men so they can be closer to the object of their desire.  There are also two groups of straight out confections that they release from the rafters.

And when all of these are gone, they also release the groups of plain balloons.  Doesn't matter that there's nothing in them, people still want to get them.  Especially the big ones, which are big enough that I could just barely put my arms around one.  These are no ordinary balloons, mind you, these are special dancing balloons, though it is true that I am the only one that they dance with.  Let me tell you about these balloons - they don't argue, they don't trip over their feet (especially since they don't have any), they follow perfectly.

This year, one woman wanted to cut in on my balloon.  I welcomed her, but she was not satisfied with the three of us waltzing together (balloons are especially good at the waltz and foxtrot (slow fox)) and became so jealous of the balloon that she swatted it away.  I'm no dummy - I would not see the woman again, but the balloon was coming home with me, so I had to insist on the balloon continuing the dance.  I knew if I let it out of my sight, it would go home with someone else.

Quadrille

One final cake opportunity was to be had when three people came onto the stage and started throwing out those red squishy balls that you can put on the end of your nose.  Catch one of the balls, win a cake. I think it's important to get your cake earlier, rather than later because they didn't think to package all of them, so the one that I got I had to carry exposed to the elements, which is not so easy if you've also get several bags and a big balloon to care about.

Oh, and if you really like chocolate, you should check out the Bon Bon Ball.

Csaba