You can bring a touch of classical grace and elegance to any occasion with a ballet-themed party. From inviting guests and choosing the perfect venue and décor to picking the perfect menu and entertainment, here are some tips and advice for throwing a fabulous ballet-themed party!
Choosing a Venue for Your Party
The venue you select for your ballet-themed party should reflect the style and theme of the event, so you may want to consider traditional performance spaces such as a ballet studio or theatre, formal ballroom or high-end restaurant, or a more private and intimate venue reminiscent of a classic French-style drawing room. If you are looking to have a backyard or outdoor party, you can set up the space with French gazebos and umbrellas, white folding chairs and classic parasols. Consider creating a “stage” by elevating items such as posing tables, flat surface seating, bars or counters.
Decor Ideas for a Ballet-Themed Event
Choose decorations that evoke a ballerina’s world. Pretty pink tulle, pointe shoe and tutu displays, tutu draped tables, white Fluffy chairs with satin cushions and accents of silver are all beautiful touches that will evoke the romantic elegance of a classical ballet. Hang sparkly streamers and bunting around your venue, and create centerpieces using tutus and tulle, pointe shoes and tulle pom-poms, or flowers arranged in graceful swoops. Delicate rose petals strewn around the venue give your event an extra feminine and truly romantic touch.
Inviting Guests to the Party
Set the tone of the invitation to be consistent with the theme and elegance of your ballet-inspired event. Timelessly classic options such as calligraphy on parchment or white card stock, illustrated scroll invitations with rolled ends presenting the night’s details, or black, white and pink invitations featuring intricate details of lace, tutus or tiaras evoke an air of classical glamour and theatre. Consider adding seasonal accents to your invitations such as snowflakes for colder seasons, or foliage and glitter for festive fall gatherings.
Creating an Impressive Menu for the Event
For cocktails, consider classic champagne punch and other sparkling drinks like elderflower fizz or champagne lemonade. Delicate finger foods that reflect the light gracefulness of the theme include gazpacho shooters, salmon tartare cones, fresh salmon on toast and smoked salmon sandwiches. For dinner options, opt for light yet flavorful dishes like risottos made with seafood or roasted vegetables, penne with fresh seasonal herbs, and miniature quiches with bacon, feta and rosemary. Choose small celebration desserts such as French macarons, mousses, light crepes and petit fours. Professional catering services can be hired to create a beautiful custom menu if you don’t want to do it yourself.
Entertainment Options for a Ballet-Themed Party
Choose live entertainment that reflects the theme of your party. Classical ballet music is always a great option for setting a refined tone for the entire event. You can also hire professional performers to dance the night away with graceful translations of the Classics. For interludes between dances or after dinner, poetry readings, string quartet recitals or harp recitals are beautiful additions to your event. Have dancers wander your event as entertainment during mealtime.
Shopping List of Items Needed to Throw a Ballet-Themed Party
When it comes to throwing a great themed event, it’s important to have the right supplies on hand. Here’s an essential shopping list of items needed to throw a successful ballet-themed party: tulle fabric and ribbon, faux pearls or diamonds, satin chair covers (likely in white), tutus in various sizes, pointed flats or flats in various sizes, antique silver frames, white candles and holders, chandeliers or low-cost paper light strings, plastic chairs or folding chairs, black/white damask table cloths or rose petal table cloths.
Ballet-Inspired Activities to Enjoy at Your Party
As your guests arrive to the venue, keep them entertained with ballet themed games and activities. Make gift bags filled with slippers, tutus, tiaras and custom jewelry for guests to enjoy during the event. As dessert is served create a fun scavenger hunt filled with costume pieces and props necessary for an elegant ballerina. You can also set up a photo booth filled with projectors of famous ballet images, costumes and accessories so that guests can get into character.
Tips for Making Your Ballet-Themed Party Memorable
To really make your ballet-themed party a success, consider some of these tips: Have plenty of photo ops set up throughout the event so that your guests can capture the precious moments they’re having together. Provide special music to amp up the mood – think classic classical pieces such as excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake or Romeo and Juliet. Have treats that were named after famous ballets available for your guests – Baked Alaska Tartlets for Swan Lake or Froid de L’amour from Romeo & Juliet could be perfect choices! Finally, consider sending out themed keepsakes or favor boxes filled with items like pointe shoes that reflect the evening spent together.
Clean Up and Post-Party Considerations
Once guests have left your event be sure to clean up promptly and carefully to ensure that any décor is properly preserved – this also means cleaning up any petals and streamers that may have been scattered about during the evening. As for post-party considerations consider sending out thank you notes or cards addressed to each guest that attended your event – small touches like these can make all the difference in ensuring a wonderful evening was had by all!
