Will we ever see the return of the “Dinner Dance”?

In the early 1980's, I went with some friends to his Father's Lodge Annual Dinner Dance; dreadful evening; women with cast iron hair dos. and awful food. However, my parents used to go to lots of events in the 60s and 70s and always looked glamorous, and as far as I know, had a good time. They also used to go to Talk of the Town in London which sounded fab; dinner with cabaret provided by the big names of the day such as Tom Jones. There is the occasional charity ball around here; dinner, posh frocks and an auction, but we don't go. The last thing we went to was rather enjoyable though; Captain's Dinner at a friend's golf club which included a casino, and dancing. Not stuffy at all.

No.

I imagine the closest is work do's. My husband hosts a lovely dinner for his workers prior to Christmas, fantastic food - brilliant, really.

My father was a mason for some years, so they went to various Masonic do’s, inc. dinner dances - probably fundraisers. He never took it seriously, though - used to laughingly refer to them as ‘boy scouts’ - despite having some official role at the Lodge.

I went to one Ladies night at Masons with my father because my mother was ill, I was about 18 I think. I remember being completely bemused, my father was Worshipful Master so no choice other than attending.
I would have loved to dance but my father didn’t so that was that.
I did go to the Hunt ball a couple of times with a group of friends from Young Farmers and thoroughly enjoyed myself (that was before I became very anti-hunting and had more sense.
I certainly haven’t been to anything since!

My mum and dad went to some and also to events like the Hunt Ball and the Licensed Victualler's Ball. They seemed to have a crowd of friends they went with. I think charity balls still exist. I did get invited to a funny handshake dinner and dance a few years ago. I didn't go.

Now pushing 80, I attended many dinner dances during the now distant 60's, 70's and into the early 80's. Frankly, they were very much a mixed bag in terms of enjoyment, rather dependent upon how the seating lottery worked out, and on who you ended up with on your table. So some super evenings, some not so. I can't see them ever making a comeback, at least not in the foreseeable future, but who knows in the longer term?

They were still alive up here until Covid. Lots of oil majors and suppliers pushed the boat out regularly, very boozy affairs! Don't think they're dead yet.

paddyann54

I had a difference of opinion with my FIL at the first dinner dance they invited us to.He wasn't best pleased,to say the least,when I refused to "stand" for the Queen at the end of the night .I solve it though I just went to the loo at every dance after that one .

I’ve never heard of standing for the Queen at any social event paddyanne. However I remember the National Anthem being played at the end of the evening at the cinema and everyone stood up.

My parents used to go to them.
ME ? never in the reign of pigs pudding.

I loved them. Often used to rent a dress just for a change rather than wear my two owned ones. Still have one, in fact. It's carefully hanging in polythene bag in wardrobe (just in case!).

My former husband was a Freemason so I went to loads over the years. I loathed them. As soon as I’d done the dinner bit I was bored and given the choice would have gone home. Could never be bothered with the dance.

I didn't like the do's but loved having a great new dress. I was tall and slim (I'm still tall ). I had some fantastic outfits.

TerriBull and Georgesgran I’ve been to one ‘ladies nights’ and it was my first and last such ‘funny handshake’ event. Insufferable, I’ve never been available for one since. I received a handkerchief with my initials and the lodge insignia embroidered onto it. I remember looking at it during the never ending dinner thinking of the woman who must have embroidered it and wondered if she found it all silly too.

We don't see them advertised very often these days, but a buffet dinner and dance were usual fundraisers for many clubs here, and I loved going to them!

In fact there is one tomorrow for our local school band trying to raise funds to get to a competition. 80's and 90's music, with the band doing a few numbers, and a DJ doing the rest of the music. It sounds like a lot of fun, but DH and I are not going, other plans.

There doesn't seem to be many posh events now, most are very casual.

Interestingly, never got involved in "works dos".

I loved them in the 70s. My parents were often involved in the fundraising but I also went to them with friends when in the 6th form (should have been 21 though). I think there must have been half a dozen or more of them a year.
Fabulous outfits (black tie) - cabaret acts, good food/wine and dancing.

I'd hate it all now!

I remember going to a works dinner dance in the early 80s, it was DH's new firm's Christmas do. At the time I could barely afford the dress, only wore it once and it sat in the wardrobe ever since. DD has just claimed it as apparently it is retro! 😀

My H and I went to many in the 60s/70s I remember that the food was mostly horrible as it was large event catering and the entertainment was very hit and miss
The committee of the organisation would use an agency and would be allocated whatever their budget could afford. At things like sports clubs annual dinner dance we sat through some very embarrassing artists.
We did attend some good local government ones but gradually they all died out and I don’t think they were missed.

My parents went to one every year run by my Dad's trade association. They loved dancing and were really good at it. My mother would never comment on anyone else's wardrobe unless it was not suitable for the occasion and then not maliciously. She didn't do malice and was very modest. Despite it being a Commercial Travellers' do and many of the members (my father included) "travelled in ladies' dresses"*, she probably made her own ball gown, but always looked fabulous.

This was a once a year event and we were always parked with a little old lady up the lane who ran a bed and breakfast. We had to sleep in a very high, very cold double bed and giggled and tickled each other for hours. She did fantastic porridge in the morning, though.

When we were older (about 8 and 10) we were dressed up and taken along and had to present bouquets to the chairman's wife or something. I think I enjoyed it but I can't remember the food or whether I had to dance with my Dad.

I very much doubt if the dinner dance will ever make a comeback, although there may be a bit of a revival of ballroom dancing with Strictly being so popular.

In my own right, I was invited to a Hunt Ball once.

* Some even admitted to travelling in ladies'underwear.

I went to loads of work DDs. I was a Management Trainee at John Lewis when I first left school. I thought they were a hoot. Mum and Dad also went to Dad’s work ones. I went in place of Mum once as she was working (she was a nurse) and Bob Monkhouse was the entertainment. I have never heard such rude or blue jokes. I was only 17 and I nearly fell off my chair laughing.

I went to some very glitzy fundraisers in the USA when I was a visiting professor. Very much black tie and posh frocks. They were very keen on that sory of thing. The academics who hosted me asked me to be a "motivational speaker" at one and I assumed it was for expenses only. A couple of weeks later a check for $1000 appeared. Then I got asked to do another in a different city. I could probably have made a very good living out of that.

No thank you.
Although they were charity fundraisers.

We used to be invited to them by DH's aunt and uncle. It meant buying long dresses, a dinner suit etc for DH and MIL and I used to rather dread them. Auntie always wore long gloves and was bejewelled.

Round Table, 41 Club, Rotary along with the Masons still have dinner dances

They are good for raising money for local charities, along with keeping venues in business.

I made my first speech at a dinner dance, cringing inside, honestly it really helped with both my self esteem and body confidence.

Before he started his own company, my DH worked for a big corporation and we had to go to these ghastly events.
Until recently, our local Lib Dems used to have fund-raising dinners (no dancing), but I think they're not that popular any more.

Yes Terri I didn’t want to mention those Ladies Nights, where the men had funny handshakes. Luckily, a sudden lack of babysitters meant we couldn’t attend many!