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Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. a ball
    • ex. Tricia went to a ball at the big hotel, and she wore a beautiful dress.
  2. a waltz
    • ex. I attended a class to learn how to dance the waltz.
  3. accessible
    • ex. The museum offers free entrance to students to make art exhibitions more accessible.
  4. deeply rooted
    • ex. The village's traditions are deeply rooted in its long history and culture.
  5. contemporary
    • ex. The gallery shows contemporary art, so the paintings are modern and new.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Vienna’s famous balls, which began in the 18th century, are still an important part of Austrian culture. Every year, over 450 balls occur in Vienna. They start on November 11 and continue until about February. Viennese balls mix history with modern style, and the waltz is still a key part of the celebrations.

These days, many young people in Vienna learn traditional dances like the waltz by watching videos online or by joining dance schools. As a result, Viennese balls continue to attract large numbers of people. However, tickets for these events can be expensive. The average ticket costs 395 euros (about ¥64,500), but VIP tickets can reach up to 25,500 euros (about ¥4 million). To make the balls more accessible, some organizers have lowered ticket prices.

While traditional dances like the waltz remain deeply rooted in Viennese balls, modern events now include a variety of entertainment, like disco or contemporary music. However, not everyone likes the change. Leander Selmani, 19, still prefers the traditional style. He said, “With a lot of change, you might lose the cultural meaning behind it.”

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.
Photo Credits: The Associated Press

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Viennese Balls

  • Viennese balls have been around since the 18th century. Would you be interested in attending one of these balls? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • In your country, are there events similar to the Viennese balls? Discuss.
  • Imagine you are organizing a ball. What kind of entertainment or activities would you include to make it exciting for everyone? Discuss.

Cultural Events

  • These days, modern Viennese balls include modern events and contemporary dances. What are cultural events in your country like these days (ex. uses modern music, introduces contemporary dances)? Discuss.
  • Why do you think some cultural events like the Viennese balls feature modern changes these days? Discuss.
  • Imagine that you are joining a cultural event in your country. Would you prefer to join traditional cultural events or more contemporary social events? Why? Discuss.