SteamPunk Tango

Date:             Friday 24 February
Location:       Islington Assembly Hall, Upper Street, Islington, London N1 2UD
Price:              Free

Two to Tango?

I'd been planning on going to the Winter Ball 2012 for a few weeks, yet this didn’t mean I’d planned what to wear. The theme was Steampunk Tango, which isn’t an easy look to fulfil and one which eventually defeated me. I attended the night in a black ‘lolita’ type dress instead.

The night was held in the Islington Town Hall which is quite a large venue, yet despite the cold outside managed to be toasty and warm. At least I believed that until I made my way down to the very chilly, yet spotlessly clean and spacious bathrooms.

As the theme suggests the event was a celebration of tango! To ensure that all attendees had at least a chance of being able to dance, a tango class had been held for the first half hour of the night. Those who didn’t participate were still shuffling their feet later into the night, while those who paid attention seemed to fill the dance floor for the rest of the evening. I was shuffling.

I had worried I might look out of place in my black dress, yet it seemed that many people had chosen a similar option. All around me were people who had dressed very well, just not in theme. This doesn’t mean that others hadn’t made the effort. Possibly half the crowd had turned up in patched jackets, elaborate masks, metal accessories, goggles of all sorts, Victorian dresses, corsets, top hats and even a horned headdress made of two speculums! Those things aren’t light, so I was astonished that she managed to keep it on her head all night, but she did.

Aside from the people, the night itself was much like a cool school disco. A large hall, round tables, a jacket over every chair, a makeshift bar, cheery bar staff, canoodling couples, raffle tickets, retro music, plastic cups and even a slow dance at the end of the night. Yes I was still there at the end of the night, I was even slow dancing. 

As the night was all about dancing the entertainment was kept to a minimum. The two dance instructors showed off their Argentinian tango skills, complete with intricate footwork and fantastic legs. Later an ex showgirl, Miss Hope Springs got up and sang us some songs. 

The night may have been all about dancing, but the event was so much more. Not only was it celebrating the end of the 2012 LGBT History month, it was also raising awareness for the Albert Kennedy Trust. Ultimately it was a worthwhile night.

Review by Ida Raine