Hear ye! Hear ye! On the magical night of Nov. 12, the Student Program Board (SPB) hosted a regency ball for students to have the enchanting experience of dressing up and having a fun night out on campus. Students donned their finest silks, wore their shiniest tiaras and danced the night away. The event ran from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the banquet rooms of the Oakland Center.
Various forms of entertainment filled the lively night. An artist created caricatures of those wanting a fun souvenir to take home. A jazz trio played live music throughout the night, captivating guests in a romantic and lively mood.
Student Alyssa Turner enjoyed the event, appreciating the live performance, festive atmosphere and the communal spirit of everyone dressing up.
“I really liked the music and the fact that it was live. It was really cool. I liked that everyone dressed up for the event because it just seemed very together,” Turner said.
Others liked the caricature artist, noting how it added a fun touch to the night and commented on the popularity of the attraction.
“The caricature was probably the highlight of the event. There’s been a huge line for it, and the artist is really talented,” student Marisa Cohen said.
Throughout the night, guests were offered delicious appetizers, such as turkey meatballs or spinach tartlets. A cranberry cheesecake dessert topped off the night. Students could also sip on a specialty mocktail, either a sangria punch or a sparkling peach punch.
Jadea Dorsey, the marketing director for SPB, discussed the inspiration and planning behind the first Regency Ball. Inspired by “Bridgerton,” she aimed to create a similar event for students to enjoy.
“Over the summer, I was watching ‘Bridgerton’ a lot, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I want to go to a Bridgeton ball.’ Then I heard about the ball that was in Detroit. I didn’t go because of the ticket prices, but I also heard that it was terrible. I thought it would be cool to bring Bridgerton to Oakland,” Dorsey shared.
Due to copyright reasons, SPB couldn’t use the name “Bridgerton.” However, the event was heavily inspired by the Regency era and the Netflix television show. The event garnered significant interest, with students inquiring about attire and admission while the event was being publicized.
“When we first mentioned it by handing out flyers and Instagram posts, it got a lot of attention, and people were coming and asking about, “What to wear? Who can we bring? And is it free?” We’re just like, yes, it’s free to all students. It’s formal attire. We just want people to come and have fun,” Dorsey said.
Dorsey anticipates future events similar to the ball with possibly different themes and was pleased with the current event’s reception and the community’s engagement. She expressed her enjoyment in planning the decorations, music and unique elements like the caricatures.
“I haven’t watched the full Bridgerton show, but I have watched some parts of it. I’m a huge fan of just dressing up in general. So that’s why I wanted to go to this event, just because it’s a chance to dress up for a night out,” Cohen said.
To learn more about SPB, visit their GrizzOrg’s website or follow them on Instagram @sbou. The next event will be a rap battle, which will run on Nov. 20 in The Habitat. On Nov. 21, SPB will also host a tailgate outside the O’Rena and serve cider and donuts before the men’s and women’s basketball games that day.
The Jack Stone Trio provided music for students at the ball, with Taylor Atkinson on piano, Jack Stone on bass and Colin Arena on drums. Follow them on Instagram @thejackstonetrio.
