Adebutante, also spelleddébutante (/ˈdɛbjʊtɑːnt/DEB-yuu-tahnt; from French:débutante[debytɑ̃t],'female beginner'), ordeb is a young woman ofaristocratic orupper-class family background who has reached maturity and is presented tosociety at a formal "debut" (UK:/ˈdeɪbjuː,ˈdɛbjuː/DAY-byoo,DEB-yoo,US:/deɪˈbjuː/day-BYOO; French:début[deby]) or debutante ball. Originally, the term indicated that the woman was old enough to be married, and one purpose of her "coming out" was to display her to eligiblebachelors and their families with a view to marriage within a select circle.
Adebutante ball, sometimes called acoming-out party, is aformalball that includes presenting debutantes during thesocial season, usually during the spring or summer. Debutante balls may require prior instruction in socialetiquette and appropriatemorals.[1]
Vienna, Austria, maintains the most active formal ball season in the world. From 1 January to 1 March, no fewer than 28 formal balls, with a huge variety of hosts, are held in Vienna, many of which act as debutante balls. TheBall der Offiziere [de] and theVienna Opera Ball are best-known for their debutantes.
The Officer's Ball was founded in 1919, by the association Alt-Neustadt, an association of graduates of theTheresian Military Academy. They have organized the ball publicly since 1926.[2] The Ball is held in January across the twenty-three salons of the ViennaHofburg Palace. The entrance and presentation of the 80 debutantes from the nobility, daughters of senior ranking military officers, or female officers in the Austrian military. They are presented to the Minister of Defense.[3]
TheVienna Opera Ball is held in the auditorium of the Vienna State Opera and hosted by the Austrian president. There are performances of the state opera ballet company and classical arias sung by the opera stars. The highlight of the opening ceremony is the introduction of 180 debutante couples -- carefully selected young women and men who have successfully completed an application program and a strict classical dance choreography organised by theElmayer dance school.
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Australia inherited the practice of debutante presentation from the British monarchy, with colonial governors andGovernors-General of Australia responsible for organizing events in the early decades.[4]
In modern Australia, debutante balls (or colloquially "deb balls") are usually organised by high schools, church groups or service clubs, such as Lions or Rotary. The girls who take part are in either Year 10, 11 or 12 at high school (i.e. aged between 15 and 18). The event is often used as a fund-raiser for local charities.[citation needed]
The Australian debutante wears a white or pale-coloured gown similar to a wedding dress, though without a train and veil. The boy wearsblack tie or another formal dress suit.[citation needed]
It is customary for the debutante to ask a boy to the debutante ball, with males not being able to "do the deb" unless they are asked, similar to aSadie Hawkins Dance. The debutantes and their partners must learn how to dance inballroom style. Debutante balls are almost always held in a reception centre, school hall, the function room of a sporting or other community organisation, e.g.RSL club, orballroom. Usually they are held late in the year and consist of dinner, dancing, and speeches.[citation needed]
Canada inherited the practice of debutante presentation to the local representative of the British monarch. By 1867, events were held by theGovernor General of Canada in the chambers of theSenate of Canada.[4]
Canadian debutantes often travelled to the United Kingdom to be presented at theCourt of St James's. The last debutante to be presented was CanadianSandra Seagram.[4]
In early modern times, marriage in the UK was an economic transaction that required adowry for the woman, who would not inherit her father's estate. TheProtestant Reformation eliminatedconvents where less desirable daughters could be sent and avoid the expense of buying a desirable husband.[5] To more efficiently match unmarried women of relatively high-status families to eligiblebachelors, QueenElizabeth I established the tradition of summoning them for formal presentation to theBritish monarch.[5]
In 1780, KingGeorge III organized the firstQueen Charlotte's Ball at theCourt of St James's in honour of his wife's birthday and to counter criticism that the couple was too frugal.[4] This began the tradition of the Britishsocial season beginning with presentation of debutantes at royal court.[4]
In the Victorian era, those who wanted to be presented at court required a former debutante, i.e. a lady who had previously been presented to the sovereign, to apply on their behalf for permission. Such recommendations were often made by the mother of a young woman, or her mother-in-law if she was married. As eligibility expanded beyond British nobles, wealthy American families would sometimes pay British noblewomen to allow their daughters to become debutantes in the UK.[4] If the application was accepted, they would be sent a royal summons from theLord Chamberlain to attend the presentation on a certain day. According toDebrett's, the proceedings on that day always started at 10 am. In addition to debutantes, older women, and married women who had not previously been presented, could be presented at court.[citation needed]
On the day of the court presentation, the debutante and her sponsor would be announced, the debutante would curtsy to the monarch, and she would leave without turning her back.[citation needed]
After the widespread availability of suitably white fabric in the Victorian era, thecourt dress was traditionally a whiteevening dress,[4] but shades of ivory and pink were acceptable. The dress featured short sleeves and the young woman also worelong white gloves,[6] a veil attached to the hair with three whiteostrich feathers, and a train, which the debutante would hold on her arm until she was ready to be presented. Debutantes would wear pearls, but many would also wear jewellery that belonged to the family.[citation needed]
After the debutantes had been presented to the monarch, they would attend thesocial season. The season consisted of events such as afternoontea parties,polo matches, races atRoyal Ascot, andballs. Many debutantes would also have their own "coming-out party" or, alternatively, a party shared with a sister or other member of family.
Debutante presentations were cancelled in 1921 due to a coal miners' strike, and abbreviated in 1936 due to the impatience ofKing Edward VIII.[4]
The last debutantes were presented at theCourt of St James's in 1958, after which QueenElizabeth II abolished the ceremony;Princess Margaret, the Queen's sister, acidly remarked, "We had to put a stop to it. Every tart in London was getting in",[7] as British society was becoming more egalitarian. More "bluestocking" debutantes went to college after their debuts, and participants had been complaining about the physical and financial burden.[4] Attempts were made to keep the tradition going by organising a series of parties for young women who might otherwise have been presented at court in their first season (to which suitable young men were also invited) byPeter Townend.[8] However, the withdrawal of royal patronage made these occasions decreasingly significant, and scarcely distinguishable from any other part of the social season.[9] The lastQueen Charlotte's Ball under Elizabeth II was in 1976.[4] It has since been revived under the patronage of theDuke of Somerset; debutantes bow to the Queen Charlotte's birthday cake. The monarchy took a more populist approach, emphasizing the Victorian tradition ofgarden parties, to which Elizabeth invited people from all backgrounds.[4]
The expression "debutante", or "deb" for short, has continued to be used, especially in the press, to refer to young women of marriageable age who participate in a semi-public, upper class social scene.[10]
The expression "deb's delight" is applied to good-looking, unmarried young men from similar backgrounds.[11]
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The United States inherited its debutante traditions from the United Kingdom.George Washington, the first president of the newly independent country, held debutante presentations in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. These events continued for Washington elites into the 20th century.[4] In theRoaring Twenties, the more democratic tradition of thehigh schoolprom became popular, which is a dance where attendance is open to everyone, not merely high-status families.[4][12]
Today, acotillion ordebutante ball in the United States is a formal presentation of young women, debutantes, to "polite society", typically hosted by a charity or society. Those introduced can vary from the ages of 16 to 18 (younger ages are more typical of Southern regions, while older are more commonplace in the North). In some areas, 15- and 16-year-olds are called "junior debutantes". Some families hold parties for their daughters alone; these "debutante parties" or "coming-out parties" might be combined with those for a small number of girls. The events are sometimes known as debutante cotillion balls and are held formiddle schoolers as a chance to teach manners.[13][14][15]
One of the most prestigious, most exclusive, and most expensive debutante balls in the world is the invitation-onlyInternational Debutante Ball held annually at theWaldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, where girls from prominent world families are presented tohigh society. The International Debutante Ball has presentedprincesses, countesses, baronesses and many European royalty andaristocrats as debutantes to high society, includingPrincess Katarina of Yugoslavia, Vanessavon Bismarck (great-great-granddaughter ofOtto von Bismarck), Princess Natalya Elisabeth DavidovnaObolensky (granddaughter of thePrince Ivan Obolensky, who was the Chairman of the International Debutante Ball and himself the grandson ofJohn Jacob Astor IV – founder of theWaldorf Astoria Hotel), Princess Ines deBourbon Parme, Countess MagdalenaHabsburg-Lothringen (great-great-granddaughter ofEmpress Elisabeth "Sisi" of Austria) and Lady Henrietta Seymour (daughter of theDuke and Duchess of Somerset).[16]
Daughters and granddaughters ofbillionaire businessmen, high-ranking politicians, such as United States presidents, senators and congressmen, and ambassadors have also been presented at the International Debutante Ball; for example,Tricia Nixon,Julie Nixon,Jennie Eisenhower, Ashley WalkerBush (granddaughter ofPresident George H. W. Bush and niece ofPresident George W. Bush), Lucinda Robb (granddaughter ofPresident Lyndon B. Johnson), Christine Colby (daughter ofCIA directorWilliam Colby), Hollister Knowlton, Charlotte and Catherine Forbes (granddaughters ofMalcolm Forbes), and Christina Huffington (daughter ofArianna Huffington ofThe Huffington Post).[17][18][16]Ivanka Trump (daughter ofDonald Trump) was invited but chose not to attend.[19]
To gain admission to a debutante ball, debutantes must usually be recommended by a distinguished committee or sponsored by an established member of élite society, typically their mothers or other female relatives. Wearing white gowns and satin or kidlong gloves,[20] the debutantes stand in a receiving line, and are introduced individually to the audience. After the debutante is announced, she is walked around the stage, guided by her father who presents her. Her younger male escort joins her and escorts her to make way for the next. Each debutante brings at least one escort, sometimes two.
Many debutante balls select escorts and pair them with the debs to promote good social pairings. Cotillions may be elaborate formal affairs and involve not only "debs" but also junior debutantes, escorts and ushers, and flower girls and pages. Every debutante must perform acurtsy, also known as the St. James Bow or a full court bow to the attendees. The exception are Texas debutantes who are presented at theInternational Debutante Ball at New York City'sWaldorf Astoria Hotel, who perform the "Texas Dip". This gesture is made as the young woman is formally presented. Debutante balls exist in nearly every major city in the United States. They occur more frequently and are larger affairs in the American South.[citation needed]
TheSavannah Cotillion Club's Christmas Cotillion inSavannah, Georgia, first held in 1817, is the oldest debutante ball in the United States.[21] Many cities such as Dallas and Atlanta have several balls in a season. Dallas, for example, has a ball sponsored by the traditional Idlewild organization. Some balls sponsored by modern organizations, such as the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Presentation Ball and La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas, raise money to benefit charities.
TheNational Cotillion and Thanksgiving Ball of Washington, DC., hosted by Mary-Stuart Montague Price, has met every November for over 60 years with proceeds going to Children's Hospital. Debutantes can formally participate in the ball for up to three years, wearing different colors each time to express their increasing sophistication: debutantes wear white, post-debutantes wear black, and the post-post debutantes wear red.[22]
Another "Old South" debutante ball is theSt. Cecilia Society Ball held annually inCharleston, South Carolina. This ball is described inAlexandra Ripley's novel,Scarlett, the sequel toMargaret Mitchell'sGone With The Wind. The Society was formed in 1766 as a private subscription concert organization. Over the next fifty-four years, its annual concert series formed the most sophisticated musical phenomenon in North America. Its musical patronage ended in 1820. Today the St. Cecilia Society flourishes as one of South Carolina's oldest and most exclusive social institutions.[23] Today the St. Cecilia Society hosts the annual debutante ball. The society admits only those men whose fathers or brothers are members. The women must be from these families. InNew Orleans, Louisiana, a debutante is usually presented at a ball during theCarnival season. Other southern debutante balls include theNorth Carolina Debutante Ball in North Carolina and theBal du Bois andRichmond German Christmas Dance in Virginia.
In New York City, there are still several deb balls, including the international one described above. Charity and social balls include the Infirmary (benefits the local hospital), the Society of Mayflower Descendants Ball, and theSaint Nicholas Society of the City of New York Ball (founded 1835). As an alternative to a ball, and more frequent in the North, a young woman's family might hold a "coming-out party" for her.[24]
Unlike the formal balls, which are held during thesocial season in spring or summer, the individual "coming-out party" may be held at any time of the year. Some are scheduled around such occasions as the debutante's birthday, or graduation from high school or university. In theory, the only women who could be invited would be those who had already made their débuts, thus affording a sort of rank-order to the debutante season. "Old-money" families often send their preteen sons and daughters to dancing classes, called cotillion, and etiquette lessons in preparation for these parties, which launch their children into society and act as major networking events. Even less grand debutante balls typically require debs to attend a few lessons in social dance, comportment, and in executing their curtsy.[citation needed]
Since the early 20th century, the African-American community organized its own tradition of social organizations, some of which sponsor similar charitable events and activities. They hold their own cotillions and debutante balls for their upper classes. Successful African Americans could meet and make connections with others of their status at such events, and make social, political and economic connections for the young women and men in their families. These formal cotillion and debutante balls still thrive as among the most traditional events of theAfrican-American upper class.[25][26][27] An example is Les Femmes Douze, founded in 1964 in Las Vegas.[28]
VariousUkrainian émigré organizations in the United States, such as the Ukrainian American Medical Association of North America, theUkrainian Engineers' Society of America,Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, and theUkrainian American Youth Association have hosted annualblack-tie debutante balls since afterthe Second World War. They are used to raise funds for charities and to introduce young Ukrainian ladies between the ages of 16 and 18 to their local ethnic Ukrainian communities.Ukrainian American debutante balls take place in American cities with substantial populations of Ukrainians, such as Chicago,Detroit,Philadelphia,Newark, and Washington D.C. Beside the traditionalwaltz of the debutantes, one of the highlights of these balls is theKolomyjka, which usually takes place past midnight. Every guest may spontaneously demonstrate their skills inUkrainian dances, such as theHopak orArkan.Kolomyjka dances tend to last upwards of a half-hour of nonstopfolk dancing. Afterward traditionalblack-tie ball dances are revived.[29][30]
Thedress code iswhite tie and tails for men, and strictly floor-length pure whiteball gown for women.Long white gloves[31] are commonly worn by female[32] debutantes and are considered a symbol of upper-class femininity.[33][34][35]
Several television series focused on young people from wealthy families include episodes with debutante events. "The Debut," an episode ofThe O.C. (a drama about wealthy Californians), featured a representation of an American debutante ball. "Hi, Society," (season 1, episode 10), "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?," (season 3, episode 9), "Riding in Town Cars with Boys (season 5, episode 10), and "Monstrous Ball" (season 6, episode 5) ofGossip Girl, also fromThe O.C. creatorJosh Schwartz, features a debutante ball in New York City. "Presenting Lorelai Gilmore", an episode ofGilmore Girls showsRory Gilmore as a debutante. She makes her debut at aDaughters of the American Revolution (DAR) debutante ball that her grandmother helped put together. InThe Critic, Jay Sherman's younger sister Margo is persuaded to attend her debutante ball. InBoJack Horseman, the titular character's mother, Beatrice, is shown attending her debutante ball as a young adult through flashbacks in the season 4 episode "Time's Arrow".
In the premiere ofThe City,Whitney Port's reality show, her co-workerOlivia Palermo describes her first pair ofManolo Blahnik shoes, which she wore to her "Deb" at the age of 18. The first season ofThe Summer I Turned Pretty revolves around the town's annual debutante ball, a plot that was not present in the book series it was based on.
Crime dramas have investigated début-related crimes. "Zoo York," an episode ofCSI: NY, featured the CSI team investigating the murder of a debutante. Medical examiner Evan Zao says that he had attended a debutante ball. "Debut", an episode ofCold Case, tells the story of a young girl who is murdered the night of her debutante ball. In an episode ofLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit, entitled "Streetwise", detectives investigated the rape and murder of a debutante.
Films with debutante themes includeMetropolitan (1990),Whit Stillman's feature film, acomedy of manners set during the deb season in Manhattan, andWhat a Girl Wants (2003), in whichAmanda Bynes plays an American teen whose estranged father is a British lord, and who is presented at a coming-out party. Bynes is also featured inShe's The Man, in which the main character attends a debutantes preparation program and finally a ball.Something New, a romantic comedy, has a scene of upper-class African Americans at a cotillion on the West Coast.The Debut (2001), a film on contemporary Filipino-American life, explores a wide variety of cultural themes through an informal debutante event.
The 1991 filmThe Addams Family is centered on the reconciliation ofGomez andFester Addams. They had a falling out as teenagers at a debutante ball. In the filmLittle Women (1994), a "coming-out" party is given. Aunt March talks to Marmee about when Meg will be introduced into society.
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020) includes a scene at a debutante ball atJohnston–Felton–Hay House inMacon, Georgia.[36]
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In Colombia, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Panama, Puerto Rico and Paraguay, debutantes are young girls who take part in aFestival de Debutantes, or a "Quince Años", held for their fifteenth birthdays.Quinceañera parties are also held in the United States among some Latino communities from these nations.
In Brazil and Mexico, such events are calledBaile de Debutante (Spanish and Portuguese) orFesta de Debutante (only Portuguese), orQuince Años (Spanish) orQuinze Anos (Portuguese).
In Panama, the Debutante Ball is organized by Damas Guadalupanas. It is a charity event held at Club Union. It takes place when girls are seniors in high school (17–18 years old). This follows the Quince Años, which takes place when they are 15.
Media related toDebutantes at Wikimedia Commons
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