Alles Walzer

The musical highlights at the HOFBURG Silvesterball - From waltz to disco

Let your imagination guide you for a moment. You enter a splendidly decorated ballroom. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling, tables have been placed at the edge of the dance floor where the ball guests have already taken their seats. The parquet is still empty, which give way to a good view at the orchestra. The musicians are getting ready for their performance and the background noise fades away as the opening ceremony begins. After the last sounds of the opening, the sentence for which the ball guests have been waiting falls:

„Alles Walzer!“

This sentence heralds the beginning of an evening full of sounds, music and dance. Traditionally, the first dance is danced in ¾ time, but you can be just as sure that the various dances will alternate as there will be New Year's Eve fireworks at midnight. Also at the HOFBURG Silvesterball all those present will get their money's worth. Twelve different orchestras, bands and a DJ invite you to shake your leg to the sounds of Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha Cha Cha, Slow Waltz, Boogie Woogie or disco music. Let yourself be enchanted as you move through the corridors and halls of the Hofburg.

You want to waltz all night long? This wish is also fulfilled at the HOFBURG Silvesterball. This year for the first time there will be a dance floor in the Geheimen Ratstube, where the orchestra will exclusively play waltz melodies. In fast or slow waltz time you can practice your waltz.

In order to be able to shine on the dance floor, it is a good idea to book in dance lessons in advance and refresh the steps of the respective dances. We deliberately use the word "refresh" because dancing is like riding a bike: Once learnt, never forgotten. Nevertheless, you have the opportunity to enjoy a waltz dance lesson in the Vienna Hofburg hosted by the Elmayer Dance School, a long-standing partner of the HOFBURG Silvesterball. Of course, the dance lesson is also suitable for all beginners.

Whether you are a passionate dancer or not, one thing you shouldn't miss at any ball is the public quadrille. Traditionally this takes place twice at the HOFBURG Silvesterball, the first time at 0.30 am and a second time at 2.30 am. A tip from us: Start looking for a partner pair early and arrive in the respective hall five minutes earlier. Do not be intimidated by the orderly chaos of the public quadrille. The experienced quadrille participants are always happy to guide you through the varied programme.

It is often said that today's youth no longer visits balls. We can certainly disagree with that! Our many years of experience show that more and more young ballgoers go to the Vienna Hofburg. To accommodate this, the Entree Room will transform into the "Silver Sparkling Disco" on New Year's Eve. Until the early morning hours at the end of the ball at 4.00 am young and old meet here to dance the night away.