Lexington, KY – Lexington’s biggest dance party is back –– the Beaux Arts Ball, organized by the UK School of Design, returns for its 43rd year to celebrate and promote the “beautiful arts.” But this year, the highly anticipated ball is stepping outside of its own colorful box.
This year’s ball, held Saturday, April 14 at 8 p.m. at the Pepper Warehouse (1200 Manchester St.), is broadening its creative focus. In past years, the ball’s focus has largely been music, but other creative outlets will steal this year’s show –– particularly the art installations.
“We’re putting a larger emphasis on art installations this year,” said Melissa Long, interior design senior and co-director of the ball. After months of brainstorming, designing and building, students from the UK School of Design will debut five to seven 10’ x 10’ original art installations Saturday night. “We are extremely excited about it,” Long said.
The 2012 Beaux Arts Ball is also jazzing up the event’s two most popular cornerstones: fashion and music. This year’s fashion show, presented by The Lexington Fashion Collaborative, will mesh architecture and fashion together, as students from the School of Design will work alongside local designers to create unconventional, geometrical fashion. With nine different musical acts, including hip hop duo Spank Rock and San Francisco DJ Ana Sia as headliners, live music will continue to keep the ball lively. However, this year, crowds can groove to beats of their choice by visiting either the outdoor tent or the indoor stage –– both of which will be playing its choice of electronic rap, dubstep and dance music.
Despite the new additions, the 18-and-over event will still offer fan favorites, including fire-breathers from Amalgamation Fire Nation, dancers from Movement Continuum, and the widely anticipated drag show. The popular $1 shuttle bus will also return, running from Memorial Coliseum and Rupp Arena to the Pepper Warehouse throughout the night, courtesy of Mr. Taxi.
What hasn’t changed is the driving force behind the event: the students of the UK School of Design. Every year, architecture and interior design students are selected to hold director positions, which are typically obtained by word of mouth. But many students participate in other ways, such as designing, offering input, or participating in outreach. Evident by the abundance of colorful fliers currently sprinkled around UK’s campus, students continue to run the big dance.
