Paseo Fairy Ball offers evening of magic for families
Little girls dance during the 2008 Fairy Ball in the Paseo Arts District. (Photos by Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman Archives)
Elizabeth Parsons, 3, picks out flowers to decorate her costume during the start of the 2008 Fairy Ball in Paseo.
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Oklahoma City’s Fairy Ball invites all ages to share wonder of creativity
In the middle of Oklahoma City, children and the young at heart this weekend will don whimsical costumes, weave flower crowns for their hair and dance into the evening in an enchanted Fairy Glen.
Families are invited to celebrate the magic of art, dance and summer nights at the ninth annual Fairy Ball from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday in the Paseo Arts District. Theatre Upon a StarDanceSwan, a multigenerational Paseo dance company, organizes the all-ages event, which is sponsored by the Paseo Arts Association and Kirkpatrick Family Fund.
The Fairy Ball will move this year into a new spot; local artists have transformed the lot behind the Art of Yoga Studio, 2920 Paseo, into a Fairy Glen for the festivities.
The midsummer event is designed to give youngsters and parents the chance to escape the stresses of modern life and enjoy nature, creative expression and the charm of fairy tales, said StarDanceSwan founder and artistic director Lorrie Keller.
“People’s – even adults’ – eyes just sparkle when they hear about the Fairy Ball. It’s like an old-fashioned community gathering, but it also sparks the imagination,” Keller said. “The Fairy Ball was created for children so that parents could see the natural creative response that children have to summer and stories of wonder and make-believe. Children need to have a creative outlet.”
Apparently, the desire for such an event is growing. Attendance has increased every year, and the 2008 ball drew about 500 people, instead of the 350 expected. Even more attendees are anticipated this year; Keller and the Paseo Arts Association started getting inquiries about the ball in May.
“There are people that look forward to it every single year, and they tell other people to come,” said Lori Oden, the association’s executive director. “It’s a magical evening full of great live music and fun for the family. … It’s not just art-making, it’s music and dance and it incorporates so much more than the visual arts.”
Fairy Ball attendees are invited, but not required, to dress as fairies, elves and other whimsical creatures, or to wear festive clothing.
The celebration begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with Flower Magic, in which participants use flowers, palm leaves and ribbons to add crowns or wings to their costumes. More blossoms will be provided since last year’s event ran out, Keller said.
From 8 to 9:30 p.m., Oklahoma City composer/multi-instrumentalist Steve McLinn will perform original “spacey jazz” using a variety of instruments. His music fits the enchanted mood and encourages attendees to dance.
“It’s like painting sound in a live setting,” he said. “It’s fun stuff. It’s something positive and uplifting and the kids have a good time. Parents get to be kids and kids get to be very magical.”
For the ball, Keller and her StarDanceSwan dancers have created a garden dragon from vintage baskets and Chinese umbrellas. After 8 p.m., the dancers will perform a piece in which they awaken the dragon.
The Fairy Ball is free, but attendees are urged to donate, particularly in light of the recession. The tough economy has cut deeply into the budget for the outreach event, Keller said.
“I don’t want to say it makes, but it allows us to begin to think of other unique ways to create wonder and magic without spending as much money,” she said.
To cut costs and long lines, event artists will no longer do full-face makeup for participants, but will move through the crowd dabbing rhinestones and glitter on children’s faces. And youngsters won’t sit at tables and chairs, but on sheets laid out on the ground, as they craft their crowns and wings. Keller hopes the changes will make the ball more playful and in tune with nature.
“We want to make it feel like you’ve just walked into a glen of fairies,” she said. “Children love playing being outside in the summer … and we want to get them outside and away from their computers and TVs.”
Going on
Ninth annual Fairy Ball
When: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Behind the Art of Yoga Studio, 2920 Paseo, in Paseo Arts District.
Cost: Free but donations accepted to offset expenses.
Information: 525-2688 or www.thepaseo.com.
-BAM
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thanks for the guide!!!