Tickets are still available for this Saturday’s Le Mardi Gras des Vampires and will be sold at the door for $20.00 each. The dance sets are similar to those at Gaskell's, with lots of waltzes and polkas, Congress of Vienna, some mazurkas , schottisches, and set dances, including Sir Roger, but also includes some vintage tangos and sambas and the elegant Lancers.

Here is our latest ball update.

Le Mardi Gras des Vampires
(sponsored by PEERS)
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Location: San Mateo Masonic Temple
Address: 100 North Ellsworth Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94401
Dance Lesson: 7:00 p.m.
Formal Dancing begins: 8:00 p.m.
Tickets at the door: $20.00
Band: The Baguette Quartette
For more information, call (510) 522-1731, see our website at www.peers.org/mardigras.html or email peers@peers.org


New Orleans’ most amusing host, M. Lestat de Lioncourt, invites you to a joyous Mardi Gras Ball in true Nineteenth century ante-bellum New Orleans style. To protect your reputation, masks are strongly recommended, and suggested attire is period costume (any period - but Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century fashions are especially fashionable!), fantasy Mardi Gras costume, or a fanciful version of period costume. Modern evening dress is perfectly acceptable, however, and there is no dress code for the ball.

For the festivities, our host has engaged the celebrated Parisian-American band The Baguette Quartette to play an exquisite mix of waltzes, polkas, schottisches, mazurkas, Les Lanciers and other popular mid-Victorian couple and set dances (both French and English), as well as the ever-popular Congress of Vienna Waltz and the new South American imports Le Tango and La Samba. As usual, all set dances will be briefly taught or called at the ball, partners are not required there will be a pre-ball vintage dance lesson at 7:00 pm, including 19th century rotary waltz and polka, vintage samba, and the turn of the century one-step tango.

Our charming host promises to entertain you at intermission with a performance by the celebrated Le Theatre des Vampires - the most innovative theater company in Paris – and a special appearance by Mr. Edgar Allan Poe himself. To sustain us through this energetic evening, punch and a light French-American snack buffet will be served at the ball.

Directions to the Ball:

Take the 3rd Avenue exit off 101, going west into San Mateo. Follow 3rd Avenue across the railroad tracks and turn right on Ellsworth Avenue. The Masonic Lodge - a white three-story Colonial style Edwardian building - is located on the corner of Ellsworth and Tilton.