BAY AREA KEI

The Ursa Major Holiday Ball is a formal dance event featuring a variety of dances, including Waltz, Swing, Polka, Foxtrot, called dances, and line dances.

Not sure how to dance or need a 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.

• Mask requirement: see the COVID-19 Policy for more information.

Dress code: lolita fashion, ouji, EGA, or general formal attire.

The recommended dress code for the Holiday Ball is lolita fashion, ouji, or EGA. We will also accept general formal attire.

The dress code will be enforced at the event and outfits will be checked at the door. You may be turned away if your outfit does not adhere to the dress code.

We encourage attendees to use the Ursa Major theme as inspiration for your outfits, but dressing on theme is NOT required. Please see the general FAQ for more information regarding the event theme, and the Code of Conduct for the full convention dress code.

Additionally, masks are required to be worn in the event space at all times. Per the COVID-19 Policy, please wear a well-fitted mask that covers your nose and mouth.

Tops:
Tops should be semi-formal or formal. Button-up shirts, blouses, suit jackets/blazers, and dresses are allowed.

Bottoms:
Dresses, skirts, and formal shorts must come to at least the top of the knee caps at the highest point and be fully opaque. Leggings or tights may be layered under bottoms that meet the length requirement. Dress pants, slacks, and khakis are allowed.

Shoes:
Shoes must be worn at the venue at all times.

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 is always another dance coming up!

Anyone can be a leader or a follower at the ball, and both sides can ask. 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” (e.g., “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 shoes guidelines detailed above in the Dress Code section. Bare feet or socks worn without shoes are not allowed on the dance floor.

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

Anyone can be a leader or a follower 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!

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: Foxtrot

A new addition for this year’s ball, the Foxtrot will have you traveling the dance floor to jazzy big band tunes. A great dance to have in anyone’s repertoire!

5pm: Polka/One Step Tango

Learn something old and something new! Polka, as one of the original social dances, will have you skipping and sweating in no time. One Step Tango is a simplified version of ballroom Tango that is easy to pick up and popular worldwide.