For those not well acquainted with the traditions accompanying the Finnish education system, "Vanhojen Tanssit", as it is called, is a ball for the second year students of lukio. Literally meaning "Old[people's] Dance", it celebrates the second year students becoming the oldest students in the school. As some of my sharper readers might at this point realise, I am not a second year student. However, do to the academic supremacy of our school, gentlemen (Used here in reference to all male students, otherwise the number would be quite small indeed.) are somewhat hard to come by, God knows why. Thus the chivalrous gentlemen from the first year ride to save those distressed damsels who have been denied a partner in what can only be described as something comparable to an absurd mating ritual from some wildlife show on National Geographic. I believe that for many damsels this was a blessing in disguise, for I have observed during our practices that many stunningly beautiful dames have in their desperation to not be left without a partner, settled for creatures akin to the hunchback of Notre Dame.

The dance is essentially a collection of old fashioned dances performed first with only our school's students, and then for the public at a large arena together with other schools from Espoo. Part of the spectacular includes dressing ourself up in dress coats, with the girls in fancy something-or-others, the names of which  are a complete mystery for me. Unfortunately the dress coats are expensive to rent, and even more crucially, must be acquired in good time. With all the kids in Espoo out to rent a dress coat, it's first come, first served; and unfortunately for me, I found out I would even be participating in the event far too late. A suit it is.

Since the beginning of the period, we have been having about three practices a week, practices I have enjoyed immensely. I'm not entirely sure what it is that appeals to me, but I have no doubt my lack of preconceptions was beneficial. I would hazard a guess that it is simply the joy of learning something new, witnessing oneself acquiring new skills, and the joy of participating in something grand and exciting. I must say also that I am amused by the characters we adopt in order to behave in a more suitable and polite fashion as befits the dances, something quite different from our daily life.

A particularly humorous part of the event is the more contemporary dance developed by a team of students. Ours is a routine backed by a - some would say hideous - mix of somewhat older pop (Including Spice Girls, the infamous Celebrations song and Tom Jones' Sex Bomb), and for some reason,  the Bold and the Beautiful theme song. The routine itself is quite good, replete with rampant sexual innuendo to which dancers participate in with varying enthusiasm. My level of enthusiasm need not be called into question.

What will come of the whole show remains to be seen. I am slightly worried as as soon as the preparations for my trip to England, including the purchase of the tickets, had been made, it was announced that we would be having a general rehearsal on the 11th. A practice which will no doubt be used in drilling the mass movements we will be doing, something which are still somewhat unclear. I must hope that my partner is there and can then drag me along as appropriate. Oh well, I really shouldn't worry about embarrassing myself, after all, there will only be 23 days left then until my departure to Japan.