Breaking Down the Book Ball

An unintended consequence of the COVID pandemic was the surge of fantasy books on social media. The most popular books include detailed accounts of ballroom dances where the main character is transformed catapulting the plot or as a happy scene before a lot of dramatic change. These ballroom scenes have inspired bookworms to create real-life balls of their own inspired by these books, one of which is happening in Dallas on April 7-8, 2023. It is called Bookish in Bishop Arts (hosted by Bookish Events) and is a two-day event in which the first night is a meet and greet of other ball goers and then the second night is the actual ball in a townhouse. I hope to see if balls are as magical and fantastical as they are written to be and to write nonfiction pieces about the reality of living out a dream. The ball would allow me to meet and interact with others in a setting like the fantasy books and allow me to gather notes as to what experiencing a ball is actually like. 

• My research started with gathering a base as to how these scenes are written in popular fantasy books. This included a list of books that I have already read with ball scenes and books that I intended to read before the ball. 
• Since this experience is mainly individual, I kept a notebook that detailed the experience from before I attended the first mixer through after the ball. Each day had both diary-like notes and creative writing prompts. 

Because of the Keller Family Venture Grant, I found that the Book Ball was largely inclusive of everyone and an uplifting environment. This contradicted the elite and competitive nature of the ball scenes in many of the fantasy books that I read. After the ball, I found that it was easier to write ball scenes in greater depth that reflect the experience I had. 

This project is important to me because it explores to what extent a dream or fantasy can become a reality for someone who is POC. It was truly a dream come true. I am now able to write about the reality of a ball in a creative piece for a school publication.

Historically balls were dances to symbolize large social gatherings for the white elite but the redefinition of what a ball is by these bookworms allows for the classical ball to be redefined. Continuing forward my writing around balls and what these gatherings symbolize is changed for the better.