At a recently held press conference, the Austrian Ambassador to Thailand, HE Enno Drofenik, announced that a Viennese style Opera Ball would be held on May 8 at the Chadra Ballroom of the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.
The Ambassador, clad in a tuxedo, and accompanied by his lovely wife dressed in a beautiful evening gown, welcomed many members of Bangkok society and even more journalists in the garden of their residence.
Austrian Ambassador to Thailand, HE Enno Drofenik (3rd left), and his wife Juri Segiguchi-Drofenik (2nd left) pose with organizers and sponsors of the upcoming Vienna Ball Bangkok, to be held at the Siam Kempinski Hotel on May 8.
His Excellency commented: “The (Austrian) Embassy in Bangkok wants to bring the Vienna waltz and ballroom dancing closer to our Thai friends. In keeping with tradition, 25 dancing pairs will open the Ball with a waltz set to classical music. Austrian artists will also be performing during the evening along with singer Daniel Serafin, conductor Russel McGregor and the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, and ballet dancers Raffaela Pegani and Alexandre Tcacenco. Guests can also choose to receive complimentary training from a dance teacher of the very famous Vienna dance school, Elmayer, at classes held prior to the Ball.”
The Ambassador added that with the help of sponsors, like Swarovski and Siam Winery, all the expenses are already taken care of for the event so the proceeds from the ticket sales will go directly to the Royal project “Kamlangjai” under the umbrella of HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha and also to the Anti Human Trafficking and Child Abuse Center in Pattaya.
Other generous sponsors of the event include Airport Vienna, City of Vienna, Vivaldi Integrated Public Relations, Austrian Airlines, Siam Kempinski Bangkok, Bangkok Symphonic Orchestra, Elmayer Dancing School, Thailand Tatler, Dance Synergy, TKI Perpetual and Divana Spa.
Juri Segiguchi-Drofenik, wife of the Ambassador and originally from Japan, said that for her it is a great pleasure to help organize the Ball. “I am myself a big fan of the Vienna waltz and Austria’s tradition”, she said. When asked by a journalist what impressed her most about Austrian traditions she smiled at her husband and replied, “The kiss on the hand – Austrians are very charming and this is overwhelming. When I received my first kiss on the hand it was just a mind-blowing experience for me.”
Following the speeches, a debutant pair from Thailand showed how to dance a genuine Vienna waltz and then the assembled guests and media enjoyed the Embassy’s hospitality, which provided delicious Austrian delicacies and wines.
Tickets for what promises to be one of the social events of the year are priced at 6,000 baht each and are exclusively available through the Austrian Embassy. For ticket reservation or further information, contact the Austrian Embassy Bangkok: Email: [email protected]. or Tel: 02-105 6700 Ext. 34.
