International Debutante Ball

The International Debutante Ball is a formal ball to present ladies to society within New York City's Waldorf Astoria at Manhattan in the USA. This ball was first held in 1954, when it was founded by Beatrice Dinsmore Joyce,[1][2] and is held biennially (every second year), most recently in December 2010. It is preceded by a number of events for the participants, beginning with the Bachelor's Brunch.[3] The Ball benefits the Soldier's Seaman's and Airman's Club in Manhattan. Each girl has two escorts, one escort is from the military. The band leader Lester Lanin played the music from the start in 1954 until his last ball in the 1990s. Every guest was given a special "lanin hat". The ball started in 1954 at the Plaza with 35 girls from different countries and different states. As it grew to 65 girls it moved to the Waldorf.

Contents

1964 Tricia Nixon Cox,daughter of President Richard Nixon

1979 Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia, descendent of Queen Victoria

1982 Cornelia Guest "Deb of the Decade" daughter of C Z Guest. Goddaughter of the Duke of Windsor.

1995 Charlotte and Catherine Forbes, grand daughters of Malcolm Forbes of Forbes Magazine

2006

One of the debutantes was Ashley Walker Bush, daughter of Neil Bush and granddaughter of George H.W. Bush.[4][5] Another deb that year was Princess Natalya Elisabeth Davidovna Obolensky, Princess Octavia Willing Davidovna Obolensky

2008

One of the debutantes was Christina Huffington, daughter of Arianna Huffington and Michael Huffington.[1][6][7]

Magaazine Articles

Life Magazine 1960 , New York Magazine 1995, The Economist 1999 , said a table at the ball cost $14000 that year.

Books

Inside the Plaza: an intimate portrait of the ultimate hotel - Page 142

books.google.comWard Morehouse - 2001 - 232 pages - Preview The first International Debutante Ball was held at The Plaza in 1954. It introduced some of the daughters of Ambassadors to the United States and United Nations, as well as those of well- to-do American families around the country, .

movies

Metropolitan (film) 1990 a film by director and screenwriter Whit Stillman. It received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. The movie depicts the lives of young, upper-class New Yorkers during debutante ball season. The International is one of the balls in the movie.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Foderaro, Lisa W. (December 30, 2008). "Glamour Still Rules, but With Fewer Debutantes". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/31/nyregion/31debs.html. Retrieved September 8, 2010. 
  2. ^ Hedberg, Margaret Stewart. "International debutante ball". Ostra-Vista. http://www.otra-vista.com/features.php?id=7. Retrieved September 8, 2010. 
  3. ^ Duffy, Jamie (December 2, 2008). "N.J. debutantes prepare for International Debutante Ball". Helping Hands - Jamie Duffy on the Social Scene > Nonprofits. New Jersey On-Line. http://www.nj.com/helpinghands/jamieduffy/index.ssf/2008/12/new_jersey_debs_will_present_a.html. Retrieved September 8, 2010. 
  4. ^ Columbia, David Patrick; Hirsch, Jeffrey (2006). "The 52nd International Debutante Ball and dinner dance". David Patrick Columbia's New York Social Diary. NewYorkSocialDiary. http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/partypictures/2007/01_08_07/partypictures01_08_07.php. Retrieved September 8, 2010. 
  5. ^ Konigsberg, Eric (December 28, 2006). "Gowns, Hair Spray and the Texas Dip: Debutante Season". N.Y./Region. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/28/nyregion/28deb.html?pagewanted=all. Retrieved September 8, 2010. 
  6. ^ Hruska, Rachelle J.. "HuffPo's Small Fry, Christina Huffington, Announces Herself To The World". New York - International Debutante Ball. GuestofaGuest.com. http://guestofaguest.com/tag/international-debutante-ball/. Retrieved September 8, 2010. 
  7. ^ "54th International Debutante Ball". Panache People & Parties. Panache Privée. http://www.panacheprivee.com/Web/BeSeen/IntlDebutanteBall/International_Debutante_Ball.asp. Retrieved September 8, 2010.