Ballroom dance host (Specific term needed)

Brigid · Sep 6, 2013

I'm looking for a term to use for the person in charge of the dance. Hostess is as close as I can find. I basically want an equivalent for "ringmaster," except for a ballroom rather than a circus tent.

Something made-up or French or obscure would be great, if there isn't a clear English equivalent.

Any ideas on where to look?

dpaterso · Sep 6, 2013

I'd be mildly surprised if this wasn't the Master of Ceremonies. Not exactly snazzy-sounding but it's the job title.

-Derek

chickenma · Sep 6, 2013

maître des cérémonies?

alleycat · Sep 6, 2013

I would have said either Master of ceremonies or emcee.

Bufty · Sep 7, 2013

Or make it up - Dance Master - that's made-up but pretty self-evident.

Bing Z · Sep 7, 2013

Is the ballroom dance a social function or a performance/competition? If it's the former one, I think the emcee and the hostess are two different persons.

Let's say Michelle Obama throws a ballroom dance party fundraising for free vet care. She's the hostess, but Beyoncé may be serving as the emcee.

Alessandra Kelley · Sep 7, 2013

Bufty said:
Or make it up - Dance Master - that's made-up but pretty self-evident.

A dance master is a teacher, has been since at least the eighteenth century.

Bufty · Sep 7, 2013

Ah - thank you. I must have heard it somewhere, I guess.

Previous life, maybe - :snoopy:

girlyswot · Sep 7, 2013

When is your ball set? Contemporary or period? And in what country?

JulianneQJohnson · Sep 7, 2013

Like other posters, the Master of Ceremonies, MC, or Emcee, is what I thought of too.

ULTRAGOTHA · Sep 7, 2013

In the Regency in England it was the Master of Ceremonies.

Brigid · Sep 8, 2013

Fairy tale setting, vaguely 1800s-y. Haven't fleshed out the time period feel yet.

The dance is a social ball, though not with entirely willing participants. It's a dark scene.

The Hostess / Mistress of Ceremonies is not a good creature, though she seems ambiguous at first. Something French would be perfect...is there a feminisation for maitre?

Brigid · Sep 8, 2013

Ah, found it. Maîtresse might do nicely.

Ballroom dance host (Specific term needed)

Brigid

wanderlust: I have it

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

chickenma

alleycat

Still around

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

Bing Z

illiterate primate

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

girlyswot

JulianneQJohnson

Ferret Herder

ULTRAGOTHA

Merovingian Superhero

Brigid

wanderlust: I have it

Brigid

wanderlust: I have it