Off to the Ball

For 125 years, ETH has had the Polyball, which is well, a ball. They decorate two main buildings, one a big old domed building which has classrooms but also a gigantic foyer with a very very high ceiling that goes all the way up to the dome. The other building is the Polyterasse, is mostly underground (on the side of a steep slope) and houses the gym, cafeteria, bookshop, library, a coffee shop/bar or 2, and multiple hallways which I have never gone down.  This years theme was "El Dorado".

They had four stages (with at least 8 bands and a DJ or 2), and four dance halls. The biggest was the one in the gym with a big band and hardwood floor brought in for the occasion, the second largest was in the big foyer, they had a big band when we arrived and a classical ensemble with an opera singer when we left.  The two other stages were much smaller, one had latin music and the other rock-jazz fusion.  Every dance stage was packed, the two smaller dance floors were dominated by the younger crowd. But the other two floors were a mixture of every age.  We spent quite a bit of time watching people dance to the big band (mostly swing and variations thereof). When we were leaving and passed the classical ensemble and opera they were dancing mostly waltz or something like that, I am not an expert.

This is a big event, I think there were over 1000 people there, the party started at 7pm and ended at 5am (that is not a typo).  There were more students there than I expected as tickets were expensive, but there was a wide range of people. It looked like a cross section of the population of Zurich, not only those who have associations with ETH were there.  Everyone was dressed up in their very best, the women mostly in evening gowns (or at least their best dress), one women in a true "ball gown" complete with layers of crinoline.  The men, mostly in suits but a few in tux, or even tux and tails. Unfortunately, the pictures aren't great as we had the flash turned off and couldn't tell the pictures were poor.

Ready to walk the red carpet (yes there was one).

Dance lessons were held early on. 

The main ballroom (the gym) with a big band and lots of dancing. 

The ETH Big Band, they were very good. 

More dancing, notice the murals on the walls, depicting the "El  Dorado" theme.

One of the bands, we had a brochure (in German) explaining who was who etc but we never bothered to figure it out. 

They were also quite good, but jazz/rock/brass fusion (I don't know the genre) isn't really my favorite.

Opera!