Gala Nocturna

Time travel to 18th-century Russia

If cold winter days and transport strikes have you looking for ways to escape the monotony of contemporary life, has Dirk Standaert got a solution for you. All you need is a cheap second-hand tuxedo, some old fur and a few fancy buttons to transport yourself to another place and time, somewhere where kings still rule and fairy tales come true.

It’s called Gala Nocturna, and it’s happening in Antwerp on 11 February. Gala Nocturna is a “neo-romantic costume ball”, the modern era’s answer to the elegant balls of yesteryear, but with an alternative edge and plenty of absinthe. Following a yearly theme, party-goers build a new world from older ones, dressing up in extravagant period gowns with hoop skirts and fan front bodices, elaborate headpieces and calf-length tailcoats. This year’s theme: A Russian Fairytale.

Held beneath the vaulted baroque ceilings of Sint-Augustinus church in Antwerp’s city centre, Gala Nocturna is now in its sixth year. Originally conceived by Standaert’s wife, photographer Viona Ielegems, the event began as a humble affair, with 150 people and no entry fee. “People had to bring a bottle of champagne to get in. It was all gone by the end of the evening,” says Standaert. This year they have sold more than 500 tickets so far.

Gala Nocturna plays host to people from every corner of Europe, who travel great distances to revel with like-minded party-goers. Revellers get a chance to meet-and-greet, party to gothic German band Qntal (which specialises in mediaeval) and take part in a Russian-themed dance workshop led by Lieven Bart, a choreographer and specialist in historical dance.

Ielegems and Standaert are also the pair behind the Victorian Fright Night in the Gaasbeek Castle on Halloween, which welcomed more than 4,000 people last year. They call themselves new romantics. “New romantics love other worlds,” Standaert explains. “We get inspiration from other eras – Victorian, baroque...it doesn’t matter if it is real or not, it can be history or legend or fairy tale. We create our own worlds based on all the different pieces where we find inspiration.”

But you do not have to identify as a new romantic to come to the ball. Guests range from teens to post-retirement. Many are people who love to dress up, others are just curious. “When we open the doors, you walk into another world with hundreds of people who are looking to enjoy a completely different atmosphere for one evening,” says Standaert.

But you don’t have a Russian fairy tale-inspired gown, you say? Never fear. Modern-day formal evening wear is a perfectly elegant and acceptable alternative. If you need more ideas, check out their mood board on their website.

“Many people look forward to Gala Nocturna for the whole year, so they take the time to make something, combining things they find here and there. Others just rent a costume. But it is also OK to come in formal evening wear too,” says Standaert.

And what will Standaert be wearing? “It’s impossible to describe. You will just have to come to find out.”