Blowing Out the Lamps: An Equinox Celebration of the Lowell Mills
Join Footwork & Frolick as we revive the mill workers’ tradition of celebrating the return of springtime sunlight and the “blowing out” of oil lamps with a ball! Step into the past for an evening of early 19th century dances and lively music. All dances will be taught, and no partner is required.
Historical costumes of the “crinoline era” (1830s-50s) will be admired but not are not required - wear whatever makes you feel elegant and ready for spring. We do recommend flat or low heeled shoes, as modern high heels are not conducive to historical dances.
We are offering 3 ticket options for this event:
Standard: $45 - this is the main ticket for the event.
Student/New grad: $35 - this is a discounted ticket for students and those who have graduated within the last 5 years.
Supporter: $65 - this ticket includes a donation to the non-profit in addition to the standard ticket cost, which supports our work and helps us continue to create events for the public.
As a non-profit, our mission is to make historical activities accessible to all. Scholarships - which include free attendance at an event or class, sometimes with a guest - are available to anyone who historically has not felt welcome in modern historical spaces or whose financial situation would not otherwise allow them to attend. We especially encourage young, BIPOC, or LGBTQIA folks to apply. Scholarships can be requested through this short form.
Join Footwork & Frolick as we revive the mill workers’ tradition of celebrating the return of springtime sunlight and the “blowing out” of oil lamps with a ball! Step into the past for an evening of early 19th century dances and lively music. All dances will be taught, and no partner is required.
Historical costumes of the “crinoline era” (1830s-50s) will be admired but not are not required - wear whatever makes you feel elegant and ready for spring. We do recommend flat or low heeled shoes, as modern high heels are not conducive to historical dances.
We are offering 3 ticket options for this event:
Standard: $45 - this is the main ticket for the event.
Student/New grad: $35 - this is a discounted ticket for students and those who have graduated within the last 5 years.
Supporter: $65 - this ticket includes a donation to the non-profit in addition to the standard ticket cost, which supports our work and helps us continue to create events for the public.
As a non-profit, our mission is to make historical activities accessible to all. Scholarships - which include free attendance at an event or class, sometimes with a guest - are available to anyone who historically has not felt welcome in modern historical spaces or whose financial situation would not otherwise allow them to attend. We especially encourage young, BIPOC, or LGBTQIA folks to apply. Scholarships can be requested through this short form.
Join Footwork & Frolick as we revive the mill workers’ tradition of celebrating the return of springtime sunlight and the “blowing out” of oil lamps with a ball! Step into the past for an evening of early 19th century dances and lively music. All dances will be taught, and no partner is required.
Historical costumes of the “crinoline era” (1830s-50s) will be admired but not are not required - wear whatever makes you feel elegant and ready for spring. We do recommend flat or low heeled shoes, as modern high heels are not conducive to historical dances.
We are offering 3 ticket options for this event:
Standard: $45 - this is the main ticket for the event.
Student/New grad: $35 - this is a discounted ticket for students and those who have graduated within the last 5 years.
Supporter: $65 - this ticket includes a donation to the non-profit in addition to the standard ticket cost, which supports our work and helps us continue to create events for the public.
As a non-profit, our mission is to make historical activities accessible to all. Scholarships - which include free attendance at an event or class, sometimes with a guest - are available to anyone who historically has not felt welcome in modern historical spaces or whose financial situation would not otherwise allow them to attend. We especially encourage young, BIPOC, or LGBTQIA folks to apply. Scholarships can be requested through this short form.
Event Details
Will there be a workshop before the ball?
We will hold an afternoon workshop at our event venue, UTEC Lowell, from 3:30pm - 5pm on the day of the ball. During the workshop we will practice some of the dances from the ball program, and will discuss foundational concepts of 19th century dance that will help you pick up new dances quickly throughout the evening. You can add on a ticket for the workshop for $10.
For those who would like to spend more time with 19th century dancing, we encourage you to attend Quadrillion! Our winter session (Jan - March) of Saturday beginner classes will focus on 1830s-50s dances. You can attend a single month or purchase a session package for a discounted cost per class.
What will the dancing be like?
Dancing will focus on contra dances and quadrilles. Contra dances and quadrilles are done by many couples together arranged in long lines, squares, or circles around the ballroom and do not require any special footwork - just walking! These dances will be taught throughout the ball, so you do not have to learn them in advance to participate. All dancing will be done to recorded music, dating from the same time period as the dances (though the recordings are modern, of course).
Do I need a partner?
As was considered polite in the 19th century, we encourage guests to change partners throughout the evening. You do not need to bring a specific partner, although we encourage groups to attend - the more the merrier!
Note that at our events we use the terms “lead” and “follow” to refer to the roles in the dance. All dancers are welcome to dance either role regardless of gender identity or presentation, and you’ll often find members of Footwork & Frolick switching between roles throughout the event.
What should I wear?
Just as the mill workers would have done, guests are encouraged to come dressed in whatever feels elegant. Historical costumes of the “crinoline era” (1830s - 1850s) will all be admired but are not required.
We do recommend flat or low heeled shoes, as modern high heels are not conducive to historical dances.
Will there be food?
Light refreshments will be served during the ball, but we strongly encourage eating dinner beforehand. There are lots of delicious options throughout Lowell’s historic district, where the ball will take place! Find options via this interactive map (our venue address is 35 Warren Street).
Venue Information
Address
The UTEC Lowell is located at 35 Warren Street in Lowell, MA. Originally a church built in 1839, the site has been a home for community gatherings since the heyday of the mills.
Parking
There is street parking on Warren Street as well as most surrounding streets, and Lowell street parking is free on Saturday evenings. The Lower Locks Parking Garage at 90 Warren Street is also nearby - about a 3-minute walk to the venue - and is operated by the city.
Public Transit
The venue is approximately a 15-minute walk from the Lowell MBTA Commuter Rail station on Thorndike Street, or a short Uber/Lyft ride from the station. The last train departs Lowell for North Station at 10pm on Saturdays.
Cancellation Policies
Ticket Sales
Tickets are non-refundable but are transferable: If you are unable to attend the ball and would like to transfer your ticket to someone else, please email admin@footworkandfrolick.org.
Weather
If weather conditions are deemed dangerous for driving or a weather emergency is called for the town or state, the event may be canceled. In the event of a weather cancellation, you will receive an email notification at the address you entered when you purchased your ticket and your ticket will be refunded.
Public Health
COVID-19 vaccination is strongly encouraged to attend Footwork & Frolick events. We also encourage those who are eligible to get flu boosters and RSV vaccines. While we will not be checking proof of vaccination, we ask that attendees practice transmission prevention by staying up to date on vaccines, testing if experiencing symptoms, and staying home when ill.
Dancing requires contact with other people - even if you only have a cold, please wear a mask or skip the event entirely! We are happy to transfer your ticket in the event of an illness.
Masks are not required, but we encourage anyone who would prefer to do so to wear one.
We want our events to be accessible to as many people as possible, which means everyone in our community needs to do their part to prevent disease transmission and we will do our best to follow local, state, and federal health guidelines. If you have questions or concerns please email admin@footworkandfrolick.org.
Code of Conduct
All attendees are required to abide by the Footwork & Frolick Code of Conduct.