Join us to celebrate the Spring equinox and honor the history of New England factory work - at our new location!
During the height of mill operation in Lowell and other industrial centers in the northeast, the tradition of “blowing out balls” on the spring equinox lit the streets with light, music, and cheer each March. On the equinox, people across the city would come together to celebrate the lengthening of daylight: from the next day until the fall, an entire 12-hour shift could completed without the use of dim and noxious oil lamps.
Footwork & Frolick is excited to honor this tradition with an evening of merriment in a location that could have witnessed an original “blowing-out” fete: an 1839 building in the heart of Lowell’s historic district. Join us for an evening of beginner-friendly dances from the 1830s - 50s, years when lamplight (and blowing-out time) was a critical part of workers’ yearly cycle. All dances will be taught throughout the evening, and no partner is necessary to attend!
Historical costumes of the “crinoline era” (1830s-50s) will be admired, but are not required. Guests are encouraged to wear whatever makes them feel elegant.
Schedule of Events
Afternoon workshop: 3:30pm - 5pm
Doors open: 6:30pm
Dancing begins: 7pm
Ticket Information
We will be offering 3 ticket options for this ball: student/new grad, standard, and supporter. As a non-profit, our goal is to keep our events as affordable as possible, so that cost is never the reason you can’t attend. For those who want some extra dance practice, afternoon workshop tickets can be added on to your ball ticket purchase for an additional $10.
Scholarships: 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.
What will the dancing be like?
Dancing will predominately be a mix of 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, and will be done to recorded period music.
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.
Can I try the dances 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.
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 should I wear?
Guests are encouraged to come dressed in whatever makes you feel elegant. Historical costumes of the “crinoline era” of the 19th century (1830s - 1850s) representing day or evening dress will be admired but are not required. (For examples of historical costume from this era, take a look at the images above, which all depict middle- and lower-class dancing in the Northeast.)
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).
About our venue: UTEC at 35 Warren Street
We will be dancing in a building with a long history in Lowell: originally St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, the original structure was built in 1839 and served as a community hub and speaking location in addition to its religious role. Today it features on many walking tour lists as the site where survivors from the Amistad Revolt spoke to a crowd of 1500 about their experiences (read more about this history at DIY Lowell). The original simple 1830s Greek revival interior was remodeled in the late 19th century and again after a fire in 1907. The building was purchased in 2006 to become the new home for the United Teen Equality Center who conducted a massive renovation and expansion, restoring and maintaining many of the church’s historic elements while creating a LEED Platinum-certified space designed for a wide variety of programming.
Our ball will take place in the main function hall, which dates from the original church and still includes historic elements such as a balcony where you can view the dancing below!
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.