Opus 1 Ball: during WorldPride, The Concertgebouw transforms into a ballroom with orchestra and DJ

On Friday 7 August, the Main Hall of The Concertgebouw will undergo a transformation unlike anything in its more than 135-year history: the hall will be converted into a fully-fledged ball venue, complete with a T-shaped catwalk running straight through it. For both The Concertgebouw and Amsterdam Sinfonietta, it marks the first time the classical tradition has opened itself in this way to ballroom culture, a performance culture that originated in New York's Black LGBTQ+ community. Black Pride Ball Amsterdam, the Belgian collective FOR ALL QUEENS! and Amsterdam Sinfonietta bring the two worlds together under the direction of Candida Thompson & Zelda Dapaah Fitzgerald.

The project traces back to a meeting more than ten years ago, when violinist and artistic director Candida Thompson and Dutch Ballroom Ancien Zelda Fitzgerald first spoke. What began as an animated conversation between two worlds that rarely cross paths grew into Opus 1 Ball.

For one evening, the familiar concert hall becomes an arena in which sixteen ballwalkers from around the world compete in four categories, including Fem Queen Realness, Vogue Fem and Lip Sync. A panel of judges assesses the presentations, while the audience cheers the participants on. DJ Arakaza provides the musical accompaniment, representing the rich tradition of ballroom music. On the microphone is Zelda Fitzgerald, one of the first MCs of the European ballroom scene, whose verbal acrobatics drive the energy in the hall to new heights.

On stage, a clash of styles and eras unfolds. Amsterdam Sinfonietta performs classical works such as Mahler's Adagietto and Fazıl Say's Wounded Birds, alongside ballroom classics including The Ha Dance by Masters at Work and Sexy like Sinia by Vjuan Allure.

Zelda (Dapaah) Fitzgerald, on behalf of FOR ALL QUEENS!: 'What makes this project interesting is not only the encounter between these two worlds, but the questions that arise from it. What happens when a ballroom performer and a classical musician share the same stage? Which values do they recognise in one another — and which do they not? And who ultimately decides what counts as cultural heritage, excellence or high art?'

Candida Thompson, artistic director of Amsterdam Sinfonietta, adds: 'This project brings together two worlds that at first glance seem far apart. And yet we embarked on a journey of openness and curiosity towards each other's perspective. The music, however different, was always our common denominator.'

About Amsterdam Sinfonietta

Driven by an extraordinary sense of purpose, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, led by violinist Candida Thompson, has developed into the Netherlands' foremost string orchestra and an ensemble of world class. It is renowned for its tight-knit ensemble playing and innovative programming, forging connections with other musical genres and art forms such as film, dance and theatre.

About Black Pride Ball and FOR ALL QUEENS!

Black Pride Ball Amsterdam was founded in 2020 as a reminder of the origins of ballroom and an invitation to return to the roots of the culture. FOR ALL QUEENS! is a femme-led collective from the Sub-Saharan diaspora, rooted in club culture and working at the intersection of artistic research, cultural production and community building; it is also one of the founding forces behind the Brussels ballroom community.