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Debutantes and their partners at the Burdekin Singers ball at Burdekin Memorial Hall on Saturday night. PHOTO CREDIT: Melanie Napier Memories and Photography
23 debutantes stepped into the spotlight at Burdekin Memorial Hall on Saturday night after months of rehearsals brought them to their formal debut.
23 debutantes took their leap into society at Burdekin Memorial Hall last weekend in what organisers called an “elegant” and “prestigious” affair.
The ‘Coco and Bloom’-themed event was the culmination of months of preparation, with organisers witnessing the participants' development before their formal introduction to the wider community.
Burdekin Singers President Lawrence Polga called the ball a “big success for both Burdekin Singers and the local community.”
“The ball is something we value, not only as a fundraiser, but also as an event for the community,” he said.
“Seeing the parents proud of their children on stage, to then seeing the children develop into lovely people before joining the community—I loved that.”
Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort delivered a special address to kick off the night’s proceedings, before debutantes and their partners performed individual dances, couples’ dances, and traditional family dances, which were rehearsed every Sunday over the nine weeks leading up to the event.
Mr Polga said the ball offered debutantes a unique experience.
“Some of these lovely debutantes have never been on stage before, or never been presented to the community or to a crowd before,” he said.
“Seeing them so nervous on the side of the stage, to them coming back so excited that they've walked out there, that’s the highlight.
"To give them the chance to have that experience for the first time in a safe environment with all their family, friends and loved ones around them, that’s one of our biggest achievements.”
Mr Polga said the success of the event was largely thanks to the meticulous preparations of the Burdekin Singers sub-committee, led by Kris Favale.
“We have a fantastic sub-committee, and these ladies have worked behind the scenes for the last seven months creating this dream. From the table decorations to the cake, through to the suits that the guys wear, it's all very on point,” Mr Polga said.
"We can't put on an event like this without the Burdekin Singers volunteers. It takes a thousand people.”
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