Viennese waltz balls are the most elegant of all social couples dancing events. The venues are as high end as you can get; in Vienna itself—which has over 150 balls each winter–many are held in the largest and most historic palaces. Ladies and gentlemen are dressed in their finest: floor-length ball gowns for ladies and white tie and tails for gentlemen. And the people are urbane; one year we exchanged cards with one couple with homes in San Francisco, London, and Vienna itself and another who had flown a very small plane the full length of North and South America. The San Francisco event—the Annual Gala Autumn Viennese Waltz Ball— is held by the San Francisco Waltzing Society, which dates to the early 1950’s. This year it is being held at the historic Hotel Whitcomb. As in recent past years it features the 30-piece Saratoga Symphony playing the music of Johann Strauss and other famous composers. There will also be a special performance by Dance Libre.