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Posted Feb 22, 2012
After several years I am finally back in Venice to enjoy the Venetian Carnival again, joining one of the most exclusive parties in of this event Il Ballo del Doge.
During carnival, the city shines with colours and walking down the small streets is near impossible because of how crowded it is. I have to admit, though, that only when I am in front of Pisani Palace, completely lit up, that I really have the feeling that Carnival had started.
This year I spent my evening at Il Ballo del Doge...
The party spread over three floors of a historical palace. Dividing the spaces was a lavish staircase that beautiful women, now dressed as XVIII Century Dames, were walking up and down with grace, holding the long skirts of their magical dresses. So many colours. It was a parallel universe that was brought to life thanks to Antonia Sautter's creativity, the Queen of the Venice Carnival. I headed to the floor where the dinner was being served.
The tables were carefully set and the most impressive layout being on the most important table of the party, where guests like the Princess Beatrice d'Orleans, the fashion designer Agatha Ruiz De La Prada with her husband Pedro J. Ramirez, Editor in Chief of the Spanish daily El Mundo, and President Barack Obama's councillor Juan Verde were found and I just had to take some photographs.
Agatha
(sitting down) and Antonia Sautter (standing up) whispering at each other's
ear.
The "show" started! Every year the theme of the ball is different and this time it was dedicated to "Queenessence": glamor, beauty and passion of the past Queens were being re-interpreted. There were beautiful singers, tenors, dancers, odalisques, violinists, one after another. In the meantime, on another floor, people were dancing to Pop music and I have to say that I really felt I like was in a surrealist atmosphere watching Dames from '700 go wild to the music of Rihanna e Kanye West, moving their bulky skirts and beautiful plumed hats. It was a unique experience and, even as a local Venetian, I was amazed by this event.
I hope the photos will do justice to what I have experienced, an experience I am happy to share with you.
TAGS: dolce&gabbana d&g stefano gabbana domenico dolce columnist enrico costantini venice in the sky venice carnival il ballo del doge photography facebook
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