On Saturday 17th June, over 400 Wellington staff members and parents gathered at the Shanghai Ritz-Carlton hotel for a well-deserved evening of exquisite entertainment, fine dining and general celebration of Wellington’s third academic year. The Annual Ball is more than just a party, however, as it aims to bring all elements of the Wellington community together, while also giving a fond farewell to families and teachers who are moving away to other countries at the end of the year. The theme was Moulin Rouge and the outfits on display completely lived up to expectations. The ladies were glamorously draped in lace and silk, decked with richly coloured feathers and sporting plenty of wonderful little touches of Parisian chic. Many of the gentlemen were no less striking, looking dashing in their black tie numbers complete with top hats, canes and splashes of red from pocket squares and cummerbunds. After the very welcoming drinks reception, everyone stepped through to the gorgeously decorated dining room which had captured the essence of the Moulin Rouge perfectly. Over the delightful four-course dinner, the guests enjoyed magical, musical and theatrical entertainments from the evening’s hugely talented performers. Excitement built after dinner as the raffle’s lucky winners were picked and announced, taking home some truly spectacular prizes which ranged from fine dining experiences to a fully paid luxury trip to Paris, complete with first-class flights and 5-star accommodation. The generous ticket buying from the attendees raised 50,000 RMB which will be donated to the chosen charity: Educating Girls of Rural China. Finally, the evening gracefully turned towards refreshing nightcaps and some seriously spirited performances on the dance floor! It was a magical evening from start to finish, and thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. Every touch and detail perfectly fitted the theme and served to make the night special for its appreciative guests. The only problem left is figuring out how the planners will manage to top it next year.