Glamorous debutantes have donned their finest white gowns to enjoy a dazzling night at the Vienna Opera Ball – one of the highlights of the Austrian social calendar.
Preparations for the formal event start weeks before, with 144 young couples aged between 17 to 24 dedicating themselves to rehearsals ahead of the night and spending hours putting the finishing touches on their outfits.
The Ball, which dates back to 1814, is held at the Wiener Staatsoper and it takes organisers 30 hours to convert the opera house into a ball room plus another 21 to dismantle all the finery.
Debutantes looked sensational in their finest white dresses as they performed a dance with their dapper debutant partners at the glitzy Vienna Opera Ball on Thursday night. 144 young couples aged between 17 to 24 take part in the annual event
Pictures show glamorous dancers from the state opera entertaining the crowd – who have payed upwards of €315 (£270) to be there – and debutantes dressed all in white during the celebrations on Thursday.
During the night the young people were seen gracefully floating around the room and performing their perfectly choreographed routines.
The debutantes were also seen lining up opposite their male counterparts for the first dance during the annual ball, all ensuring to stay in formation and impress.
Polish tenor Piotr Beczala and Russian soprano singer Aida Garifullina also took to the stage to entertain the guests and even performed a duet together.
Dancers from the Vienna State Opera wowed in their white and gold ensembles as they performed a beautiful routine to the 5000 guests enjoying the spectacle during the annual ball. As they danced debutantes stood around the floor watching on
It takes organisers 30 hours to convert the stunning opera house into a ball room plus another 21 to dismantle all the finery. Pictured are the young couples lining up for the first dance during the annual event in Austria
The women wore white ballgowns and tiaras while the men looked extremely dapper in black suits and white shirts as they twirled around the dance floor. The young people spend weeks rehearsing for the night, which is watched by millions on TV
Some 5000 visitors party away and dance into the small hours of the morning – with international celebrities from the world of culture, business, politics, academia and sports all making the ball a high-key social event.
Tickets go on sale a year before the event takes place, and cost anywhere from €315 (£270) for general admission, to €23,600 (£20,230) for a circle box for 12 people.
Pulling off the Vienna Opera Ball is no mean feat and organisers need to ensure they are well stocked up on the essentials to keep guests happy and enjoying the night.
Once the official first dance is complete the guests can join in the entertainment and take to the floor to show off their own moves and glittering gowns. Tickets for the event cost anywhere from €315 (£270) to €23,600 (£20,230) for a circle box
Guests can sit on all levels of the venue and watch as the dancers step out and finally get to perform the routine they have spent weeks learning. While twirling around the floor the young people hold onto small bunches of red flowers
The Wiener Staatsoper is transformed for the annual ball, with the debutantes lining up (left) to start the dancing and the guests later filling the floor space (right) for their own chance to twirl in the beautiful building
At the ball the women wear white ballgowns, with some opting for strapless and others donning dresses with pretty lace detailing on the bodice and skirt. The men also ensure they look suave with white gloves and matching bowties
One member of the opening committee is seen in good spirits as she waits for the ceremony to begin and shows off her pretty tiara and dash of pink lipstick
As well as the debutantes, the guests are treated to performances from the Vienna State Opera perform during the ball
During the event 1,300 bottles of sparkling wine and champagne are drunk as well as 900 bottles of wine and 900 bottles of beer.
As for the food guests are expected to eat 2,500 pairs of sausages, 1,000 petits fours and sandwiches and 1,300 goulash soups.
Previous celebrity guests have included Kim Kardashian and Hilary Swank, and the event is watched by hundreds of thousands of viewers.
Last year supermodel Elle Macpherson stole the show, in a dazzling floor-length emerald gown and appeared as the special guest of Richard Lugner.
Austria’s President Alexander van der Bellen and his wife Doris Schmidauer attended the opening ceremony of the traditional Opera Ball. During the event 1,300 bottles of sparkling wine and champagne are drunk by excited and happy guests
Italian actress Ornella Muti was given a kiss on the cheek during a dance with Austrian construction entrepreneur Richard Lugner as they enjoyed the night
Ornella Muti looked sensational in a curve-hugging black dress which boasted a ruffle on the shoulder. She completed her look with a touch of red lipstick and slicked her brunette locks back into a chic up do. Also pictured is Richard Lugner
Stunning flowers are also placed throughout the opera hall, adding splashes of colour to the already glamorous venue
Actor Gabriel Luna and models Franziska Knuppe and Barbara Meier are seen enjoying their time at the Ball as they sit in a box and watch the entertainment below
Model Franziska wowed in a red off-the-shoulder gown and floral inspired tiara which boasted a red flower in the centre
Thousands of guests attend the ball with organisers saying that they are expected to eat 2,500 pairs of sausages, 1,000 petits fours and sandwiches and 1,300 goulash soups
The ball season in Austria is an important part of its culture and runs from November until Lent, with the Opera Ball being the last major event in the calendar.
Other pictures from the event show the debs preparing for their big night and sneaking in some last minute rehearsal time to go over their steps.
With around 1.46million people watching the high-society event on TV, the routine cannot be gone over enough to ensure nobody puts a foot wrong during showtime.
Some couples were spotted practicing their twirls in the corridor while some of the men went through their steps while a woman watched on.
With around 1.46million people watching the high-society event on TV, the routine cannot be gone over enough to ensure nobody puts a foot wrong during showtime. Two dancers are pictured smiling as they practice back stage
A debutante watched two of the debutants go over some of their steps in the corridor before they had to line up and wow the guests at the Vienna Opera Ball
A woman, who is already in her white gown and wearing her brunette locks perfectly pinned back, is seen going through her things ahead of the event on Thursday night
A man helps put the finishing touches onto one of the women’s hair style as they patiently wait to take part in the opening ceremony of the traditional 64th Vienna Opera Ball
The ball season in Austria is an important part of its culture and runs from November until Lent, with the Opera Ball being the last major event in the calendar. Pictured are some of the debs conserving their energy before the party started
Some of the women were seen sporting white gloves ahead of the big dance. Pictured is one young woman perching on a seat ahead of the party on Thursday