BAY AREA KEI

Imperial Ballroom, Garden Level

Saturday, 8:00 PM–10:30 PM

The Ursa Major Holiday Ball is a formal dance event featuring a variety of dances, including waltz, swing, cha-cha, as well as called dances and line dances.

Not sure how to dance or need to brush up on your moves? We are hosting dance lessons on Saturday afternoon, from 2 PM to 6 PM! To find out more, scroll down to the Dance Lessons section at the bottom of the page.

8:00 - Doors open

8:30 - Coordinate contest

9:30 - Contest winner announcements

10:30 - Ball ends

The following policies will be enforced at the Holiday Ball:

• Age restriction: Limited to attendees aged 18 and up.

• Dress code: Your best J-fashion coordinate or general formal attire.

Shoe policy: If planning to dance, shoes must meet additional requirements. See Shoe Policy below for more information.

Option 1: A Festively Formal J-Fashion Coordinate

The recommended dress code for the Holiday Ball is a fancy and festive J-fashion outfit. Whether it is lolita, ouji, EGA, or another J-fashion style, please dress to impress and arrive in your best Holiday J-fashion coordinate.

We encourage attendees to use the Ursa Major theme Cosmic Carnival as inspiration for your outfits, but dressing on theme is not required. Please see the general FAQ for more information regarding the event theme.

Option 2: General Formal Attire

For attendees who do not have a J-fashion coordinate available, general formal attire is also accepted.

Formal attire includes:

• Formal dresses or skirts

• Button-up shirts and blouses

• Suit jackets or blazers

• Dress pants, including slacks and khakis

Disallowed Clothing

The following clothing items are specifically not allowed:

T-shirts, tank tops, crop tops, jeans, casual shorts, sweatpants, leggings/tights worn by themselves without a skirt layered over them, UGGs, Crocs, or flip flops.

Shoe Policy

Shoes must be worn at the venue at all times.

If you want to dance on the dance floor, the following shoe requirements must be met.
They do not apply during the Coordinate Contest.

• Height: Heels or platforms must be less than 10cm (4 inches) in height at their highest point.

• Heel Circumference: Heel tips must be at least 2cm (3/4 inch) in diameter.

• Style: Dress shoes, ballroom shoes, character shoes, flats, and formal sandals are allowed. Formal sandals must have a back strap that secures the heels.

Enforcement

Outfits will be checked at the door, and you may be turned away if your outfit does not adhere to the dress code.

Masks are recommended but not required at the event space. Please check the COVID-19 Policy for more information on related policies.

If you need special accommodations (such as orthopedic shoes) or have any other questions about the dress code, please contact Bay Area Kei.

The following shoe requirements are for the dance floor. Except for walking during the Coordinate Contest, shoes must meet the following requirements for dancing on the floor:
Heels or platforms must be less than 10cm (4 inches) in height at their highest point. Heel tips must be at least 2cm (3/4 inch) in diameter. Formal sandals must have a back strap that secures the heels. Dress shoes, ballroom shoes, character shoes, and flats are allowed.

The following clothing items are specifically not allowed:

T-shirts, tank tops, crop tops, jeans, casual shorts, sweatpants, leggings/tights worn by themselves without a skirt, stiletto heels, UGGs, Crocs, or flip flops.

If you have questions about the dress code or need special accommodations (such as orthopedic shoes), please contact Bay Area Kei.

The coordinate contest will take place starting at 8:30 PM during the Holiday Ball, and winners are eligible to win various prizes donated by our generous vendors. If you are interested in participating in the contest, please visit the Coordinate Contest page for more details.

As with all events during Ursa Major, attendees must comply with our Code of Conduct.

Stay hydrated and rest as needed. Dancing can be tiring, and there will be no shortage of opportunities to get back on the dance floor!

As for the dances, anyone can lead or follow at the ball, and both sides can ask someone to dance. Make sure your dance partner knows which role you’re planning to do!

If for any reason you do not want to dance with someone, be courteous when saying “no” (ex. “Sorry, I’m not interested”). Similarly, if someone says “no” to a dance, thank them and move on.

Don’t know how to dance? Need a refresher on old steps? Join us for lessons Saturday afternoon to learn some new steps and get ready for the ball!

To participate in the lessons, your footwear must adhere to the Shoe Requirements detailed in the above Dress Code section. Shoes must be worn on the dance floor.

You do not need to come to the class with a dance partner. We encourage everyone to rotate between partners.

Anyone can lead or follow during the lessons and the ball. We just ask that you stick to one role during the entire class for ease of teaching. Feel free to switch up roles at the ball!

Imperial Ballroom B, Garden Level

Saturday, 2:00 PM–6:00 PM

2pm: Slow Waltz

Be swept away with a romantic dance and learn how to travel on the dance floor!

3pm: East Coast Swing

Come learn a versatile dance that goes well with a wide variety of music such as blues, jazz, and more!

4pm: Club Cha-Cha

A new addition for this year’s ball, the Cha-Cha incorporates Cuban hip movements and is danced at many nightclubs. A great dance to have in anyone’s repertoire!

5pm: One Step Tango & Line Dance (Abracadabra)

Learn something old and something new! One-step tango is a simplified version of ballroom tango that is easy to pick up and popular worldwide. Then, get a head start on the line dance for this year’s ball, Abracadabra by Lady Gaga.