B&D Ball

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The B&D Ball is a celebration of the BDSM/Fetish/Goth subculture in New England, held annually at the Manray Nightclub in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The first B&D Ball at Manray was staged as a one time event on May 1, 1992. It is generally known as the first public event in the Greater Boston area with a BDSM theme. With one exception, the Ball has always been held on May 1 or the Friday nearest to it. This is mostly out of tradition.

As the local scene matured, it incorporated greater elements of the Fetish and Goth subcultures. The Ball underwent changes that reflected this, with the inclusion of more fashion shows and conceptual performance pieces. Short films and live musical acts have also been presented.

One constant of the B&D Ball is the presence of a notable Master or Mistress of Ceremonies. The first two Balls had Oedipus, a popular DJ on WBCN-FM, as MC. Later events would see internationally-known models and dominas such as Dita von Teese, Rubberella, Midori and Bianca Beauchamp, each bringing a unique style to that year's Ball.

With the closing of Manray on July 30, 2005, the future of the B&D Ball is in question. The 15th B&D ball will be held by Manray on May 12 at the Cyclorama in Boston, the new location of Manray will be announced at that time.