This past Saturday I was given the fun and awesome opportunity to attend the Calgary Opera’s Grave Gala at Hotel Arts on behalf of Swerve Magazine. Along with two hosts from UP! Radio, Leslie and Kevin – I judged the costume contest. This year’s Grave Gala was Carnivalesque-themed and they did an incredible job of making the ballroom look authentically from the days of freak shows. Beautiful paintings, cages to be danced in, and a troupe of pink-haired mischief-makers perfected the evening. There was also a room filled with psychics available for readings which was very cool – I got an energy reading and my numerology done and it was all good news!
As for my costume, I went as a black swan-esque fallen angel. Since I was a judge I assumed I didn’t have to be ‘just anything’. My cohorts for the evening dressed as the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow. They had hoped to get in contact with me to dress as Dorothy but no luck. Instead I was a dark ghoulish girl in a tutu and black wings. It was so much fun!
I didn’t manage to get photos of the winning costumes but they were outstanding and all handmade. The winners were as follows:
Best Couple: Mad Hatter & Queen of Hearts
Best Male: Terrifyingly scary Scarecrow
Best Female: Native Warrior Princess
Best Group: Harlequin Clows
Judge’s Choice: Carnivalesque Mime Couple
As you can see by the photos it was a breathtaking, whirlwind affair — the snapshot of the CanCan dancers totally reminds me of Moulin Rouge when they are drinking absinthe! A perfect Halloween! Thanks Swerve for the chance to party with the glamourously masked party people of Calgary. What did you get up to this Halloween? Were you a black swan as well? Apparently, it was the most common costume choice this year!
xo