The Girl Genius Europan Oktoberfest Ball

presented by PEERS

Saturday, October 4,

Doors Open 6:45PM, Dance Lesson: 7:00PM, Dancing Begins: 8:00PM

Alameda Elks Lodge, 2255 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda

$20

http://www.peersdance.org/girlgenius.html

http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php

http://www.flowinglass.com/avalon

http://www.elks.org/lodges/lodgefacilities.cfm?LodgeNumber=1015

“Eat, drink, dance, and celebrate the triumph of SCIENCE! at this splendid Oktoberfest party at Mamma Gkika’s notorious famous tavern.

You don’t need to be a genius, a spark, or even a mad scientist to enjoy the Girl Genius Ball. Join us for an evening of adventure and dancing in Europa, home of Agatha Heterodyne, Baron Klaus Wulfenbach, and the irrepressible Jagermonsters. This is a Victorian Steampunk-themed event. Imagine the Victorians with high technology: flight (often in Zeppelins), highly programmed ‘intelligent’ robots, and computer-like machines.

Costumes can range from historically accurate Victorian costume (1840-1900) to Victorian attire with technological updates (leather corset bodices, crinolines that can be converted to step ladders, utili-kilts, etc.), to traditional Oktoberfest costume or perky 19th century peasant garb in synch with the vaguely Germanic, vaguely Eastern European setting of the Girl Genius graphic novels. In short, you have a lot of choices!

PEERS is honoured to welcome Avalon Rising as as our guest band for the evening. Celebrated for their brilliant arrangements of Medieval and Renaissance rock, Celtic and Celtic Fusion, Avalon Rising is a rock band equally at home playing Victorian and vintage ballroom dance music – and just about everything else. Dance music for the evening will range from wonderful 19th century waltzes, polkas, and mazurkas to Celtic reels and jigs, elegant Renaissance dance music, to straight-up rock. While some of the set dances are highly choreographed (and will be taught or called on the spot), some of the other dances are open to free-form styling. We’ve seen people dancing polkas, Irish Polka Sets, swing, and rock – all to the same Avalon Rising tune. Even if you think you can’t dance, you CAN dance to this band, but there will also be a pre-ball dance lesson to help you get through the ballroom dances on the program.

And, of course, we’ll dance that perennial Europan Oktoberfest favorite, the He’s Too Mad For Me Polka.
In honour of Oktoberfest, we will feature a splendid no-host beer and wine bar and a light quasi-Germanic snack buffet (your potluck contributions are very welcome to Mamma’s kitchen!).”