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{{short description|French debutante ball}}

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{{Infobox recurring event
|name = Le Bal des Débutantes
|logo =
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|genre = Clothing and fashion exhibitions
|date =
|frequency = annually
|location = [[Paris]], France
|first = 1958
|founder_name =
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|participants =
|attendance =
|area =
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|patron =
|organised = Ophélie Renouard
|people =
|member =
|website =
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}}

[[File:Vanity fair photo shoot with the 2011 debs for le Bal des débutantes in Paris.jpg|thumb|''Vanity Fair'' photo shoot with the 2011 Debs]]

'''Le Bal des Débutantes''', also known simply as "le Bal" (or, previously, the "Crillon Ball"), is a [[debutante ball]] and fashion event held annually in November in [[Paris]], bringing together between 20 and 25 debutantes aged 16 to 22 from many countries, together with their parents and a similar number of young men. It started as a social event and was first held in the [[Versailles Orangerie|Orangery]] of the [[Château de Versailles]] on 10 July 1958.{{r|fig}}

==History==
The ball was started as a social event, and was first held in the [[Versailles Orangerie|Orangery]] of the [[Château de Versailles]] on 10 July 1958. There were fifty debutantes; all were American.{{r|fig}} For the ball of 1959, permission to use the Orangery came from [[André Malraux]]; the event was financed by the fashion and perfume houses of Paris. A hundred and fifty young women took part.{{r|exp}}
The event was not held in 1968 due to the [[May 68]] worker uprising in France, and was subsequently not held for several decades.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Burlet|first1=Fleur|title=How to Be a Debutante in the Age of Netflix and Google Searches|url=https://wwd.com/eye/parties/debutante-ball-paris-1202912458|publisher=WWD|accessdate=25 January 2023}}</ref>

The ball was revived in 1992, organised by Ophélie Renouard as a fashion event by invitation.<ref>{{cite web|title = Social Diary 1/4/06 – Social Safari in Paris, France|url = http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/legacy/socialdiary/2005/01_04_06/socialdiary01_04_06.php|website = www.newyorksocialdiary.com|accessdate = 2015-06-26|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190124202251/http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/legacy/socialdiary/2005/01_04_06/socialdiary01_04_06.php|archive-date = 24 January 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="journaldesfemmes.com">{{Cite web|title = Le Bal des Débutantes 2015 perpétue la tradition|url = http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/people/evenements/1442296-bal-des-debutantes-2015/|website = www.journaldesfemmes.com| date=27 November 2015 |accessdate = 2015-11-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title = Le Premier Défilé des Débutantes|date = September 1992|magazine = Point de Vue|page = 26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title = Behind the Scenes: Having a Ball|author= Twigg, Melissa|date = February 2015|magazine = Hong Kong Tatler|url=https://www.tatlerasia.com/the-scene/people-parties/behind-the-scenes-having-a-ball|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Nikkah|first1=Roya|title=New elite come out|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1570473/New-elite-comes-out-at-the-billionaires-ball.html|publisher=Telegraph|accessdate=22 March 2018}}</ref> From 1992 to 2012, it took place every year at the [[Hôtel de Crillon]],<ref name="Telegraph2004">{{cite news|last=Ross|first=Rory|title=Fairy Godmother to the New Debs|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = L'officiel de la mode|last = Du Eugénie Adda et Karen Rouach|date = 1 December 2014|work = En coulisse du Bal des Débutantes}}</ref> and thus was often called the "Crillon Ball". It is now sometimes referred to simply as "le Bal".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reporter |first1=SCMP |title=Sabrina Meng Wanzhou and Annabel Yao: Huawei founder's two daughters |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/2176660/why-two-daughters-huawei-founder-have-different-names-and-not-their |publisher=South China Morning Post |accessdate=12 December 2018}}</ref>

In 2005, ''Forbes'' described the ball as one of the world's ten "hottest parties".<ref>{{cite web|title = World's Hottest Parties|url = https://www.forbes.com/2005/09/08/parties-luxurytravel-lifestyle-cx_sb_0908feat_ls.html|website = Forbes|accessdate = 2015-06-26}}</ref>

''Le Bal'' took place in 2013 and 2014 at Hôtel Raphael <ref>{{cite web|title = Bal des débutantes – Le premier pas|url = http://www.parismatch.com/People/Spectacles/Le-premier-pas-662870#662882|accessdate = 2015-06-26}}</ref> and in 2015 was held in the Palais de Chaillot, which overlooks the Eiffel Tower.<ref name="Carbone">{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/invitationonly-debutante-ball-in-paris-summons-25-ladies-to-have-le-bal-20151110-gkvx7g.html|title=Invitation-only debutante ball in Paris summons 25 ladies to have le Bal|last=Carbone|first=Suzanne|newspaper=The Age|access-date=2015-11-18}}</ref> Le Bal was held at [[The Peninsula Paris]] in 2016 and 2017,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lebal.events/presentation/|title=Presentation|access-date=2016-07-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206115717/https://www.lebal.events/presentation/|archive-date=6 December 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and in 2018 and 2019 at the Shangri La Hotel in Paris.

From the beginning the event has raised money for charities.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Colacello |first1=Bob |title=Le Bal 2018: Inside the 25th Edition of Bal des Débutantes |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/01/le-bal-des-debutantes-paris |accessdate=14 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Bal des débutantes – Kyra Kennedy. Une américaine à Paris|url = http://www.parismatch.com/Actu/International/Kyra-Kennedy-Une-americaine-a-Paris-529560|accessdate = 2015-06-26}}</ref> From 2009 to 2019, it supported [[:fr:Association Enfants d'Asie|Enfants d'Asie]], an organization which provides education for girls in Southeast Asia.<ref name="PhilTatler2010Popple">{{cite journal|last=Popple|first=Shauna Jay|title=The Ball Issue: Making her Debut|journal=Philippine Tatler|page=131}}</ref> And from 2009 to 2019, it also supported Seleni, a non-profit organisation that finances research in healthcare for adolescent mothers.<ref name="journaldesfemmes.com" /> In 2022, it supported the ARCFA (Association pour la Recherche en Cardiologie du Fœtus à l'Adulte) of the Necker Children's Hospital and the World Central Kitchen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bal des débutantes 2022 : les plus belles photos d'une soirée hors du temps |url=https://madame.lefigaro.fr/style/news/bal-des-debutantes-2022-les-plus-belles-photos-d-une-soiree-hors-du-temps-20221127 |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=Madame Figaro |language=fr}}</ref>

==Participants==

The criteria for invitation as a débutante are an attractive appearance,<ref name="Telegraph2004" /><ref name="YoDona2007">{{cite news|last = de Amézaga|first = Abraham|title = El baile del año|newspaper = El Mundo|date = 24 November 2007|location = Yo Dona section|language = es}}</ref> intelligence, and famous parents.<ref name="Telegraph2004" /><ref name="parismatch.com"/> The débutantes often come from families known in entertainment, business, or politics.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jiang |first1=Sijia |title=Arrest of Huawei 'heiress' throws rare spotlight on family |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-huawei-profile/arrest-of-huawei-heiress-throws-rare-spotlight-on-family-idUSKBN1O517C |work=Reuters |accessdate=12 December 2018}}</ref>

As ''le Bal'' is also a couture event, the gowns are fashion show dresses and ''le Bal'''s team endeavors to find the most suitable ones.<ref name="Telegraph2004" />

From 2000 to 2003, ''le Bal'' welcomed a winner from a contest held by the French magazine ''Jalouse'' each year. Each one was chosen based on a submitted application.<ref>{{cite web|title = Jalouse – n°52 de 2002 – page 1 – Cendrillon sans les larmes un deux trois participez au bal des|url = http://patrimoine.editionsjalou.com/jalouse-numero_52-page_20-detailp-16-1345-20.html|website = patrimoine.editionsjalou.com|accessdate = 2015-06-26|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150623055243/http://patrimoine.editionsjalou.com/jalouse-numero_52-page_20-detailp-16-1345-20.html|archive-date = 23 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The majority of the participants must familiarize themselves with wearing haute couture dresses, trading common teen fashion items for "heels, tiaras and haute couture gowns worth up to £30,000 each".<ref name="Aujourd2008" /><ref name="Telegraph2004" />

In interviews, the débutantes usually speak of the pleasure of wearing couture dresses, the charity aspect of the event,<ref name="PhilTatler2010Popple" /> and the opportunity to meet girls from different countries.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Vogue Flash Moment: Having a Ball|journal=Vogue}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Froufrou au Bal des débutantes|url = http://www.lepoint.fr/chroniqueurs-du-point/marie-christine-morosi/froufrou-au-bal-des-debutantes-25-11-2011-1400590_221.php|accessdate = 2015-06-26|first = Marie-Christine|last = Morosi|date = 25 November 2011}}</ref>

Each débutante is escorted by a ''cavalier''. He may be by a young man of her own choosing, such as a brother, cousin, friend, or boyfriend. However, nearly half of the débutantes, particularly those travelling from abroad, don't bring their own cavaliers; they rely instead on the organizers of ''le Bal'' to find a cavalier.<ref>{{cite web|title = Beatty, Belmondo, Mountbatten : la relève tourbillonne au bal des débutantes – People – MYTF1News|url = http://lci.tf1.fr/people/beaty-belmondo-mountbatten-la-releve-tourbillonne-au-bal-des-8526440.html|website = MYTF1NEWS|accessdate = 2015-06-26}}</ref> The organizer, Renouard, has stated that choosing the cavaliers based on their ages, the language they speak, their heights, and possibly their backgrounds usually produces an optimal match for the débutantes.<ref name="https://www.tatlerasia.com/"/>

Le Bal tries their best to not have more than two French girls every year. Many débutantes are part of the European [[aristocracy]], including [[princess]]es and [[duchesses]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://histoiresroyales.fr/liste-bal-des-debutantes-2019-cavaliers-couturiers/ | title=Bal des débutantes 2019 : Trois princesses y participeront cette année : Cavaliers, couturiers, liste des débutantes | date=24 November 2019 }}</ref> Ophélie Renouard says she favors Italian girls for their sophisticated look.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://madame.lefigaro.fr/celebrites/bal-des-debutantes-princesses-filles-de-stars-roturieres-qui-peut-reellement-participer-151118-151601 | title="Je les contacte l'année de leurs 16 ans" : Dans le secret du Bal des débutantes | date=28 November 2019 }}</ref>

Many others are daughters of actors and industry tycoons, such as [[Ava Philippe]], [[Jet Li|Jane Li]], [[Ren Zhengfei|Annabel Yao]], [[Jean-Paul Belmondo|Stella Belmondo]], [[Forest Whitaker|True Whitaker]], [[Warren Beatty|Ella Beatty]], [[Mads Mikkelsen|Viola Mikkelsen]], [[Sylvester Stallone|Sophia-Rose Stallone]], [[Bruce Willis|Scout LaRue]], [[Gregory Peck|Ondine and Harper Peck]], and [[Sean Connery|Natasha Connery]]. Others are famous in their own right, such as [[Ballet dancer|ballerinas]] and young prodigies: a few years ago, Lauren Marbe, the daughter of a cab driver in the UK whose IQ exceeded Einstein’s, and in 2015, [[Olivia Hallisey]], an American high schooler who won the first prize of the [[Google Science Fair]] for inventing a test for the [[Ebola]] virus.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://madame.lefigaro.fr/celebrites/bal-des-debutantes-2018-qui-sont-les-debs-true-whitaker-gabrielle-de-pourtales-shloka-birla-2018-221118-151899 | title=Bal des débutantes : Qui sont les "debs" 2018 ? | date=23 November 2018 }}</ref> In 2022 [[Eileen Gu]] attended le Bal<ref>{{Cite web |last=Noyen |first=Maria |title=I went to Le Bal des Débutantes, where kids of Hollywood legends, royals, and business moguls make their high-society debut. It was a night full of glamour I'll never forget. |url=https://www.insider.com/inside-le-bal-des-debutantes-attended-by-stars-and-royals-2022-12 |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> after winning two gold medals at the [[2022 Winter Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinese Olympian Eileen Gu working for Salt Lake Games bid |url=https://apnews.com/article/eileen-gu-winter-olympics-sports-china-beijing-b1549a2c689f7086af97993dfcadadc3 |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref>

== Character ==
The ball introduces the world of high fashion to its invited débutantes, who are usually the daughters of well-known families. It can also be seen as an opportunity for fashion houses to achieve brand exposure.<ref name="https://www.tatlerasia.com/">{{Cite web|title=Exclusive: An insider's view to the annual Bal des Débutantes in Paris|url=https://www.tatlerasia.com/the-scene/people-parties/exclusive-insider-view-crillon-debutante-ball-paris-2015|accessdate=2015-12-13|website=Malaysia Tatler}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = International Herald Tribune|last = Menkes|first = Suzy|date = 23 November 1993|work = Haute Couture and the Upper Crust|pages = 1–9}}</ref>

The young women wear [[haute couture]] dresses by European designers<ref>{{Cite news|title = Paris Match|last = Zan|first = Jean-Claude|date = 1992|work = Les Plus Belles Débutantes du Monde}}</ref> and overseas fashion houses. They all wear jewelry from the same jeweler.<ref name="madame.lefigaro.fr">{{Cite web|title = Le Bal des débutantes, haute société et haute couture|url = http://madame.lefigaro.fr/celebrites/le-bal-des-debutantes-haute-societe-et-haute-couture-301114-82854|website = Madame Figaro|date = 30 November 2014|accessdate = 2015-11-25|language = fr-FR}}</ref> Some couture houses have produced special ball gowns for the event. In 2003, [[Carolina Herrera (fashion designer)|Carolina Herrera]] made one for Diana Mellon, and in 2014 Danish designer Jesper Hovring made a dress for Viola Mikkelsen.<ref>{{cite web|title = En coulisses du Bal des débutantes – L'officiel de la mode|url = http://www.lofficielmode.com/art-du-style/bal-debutantes/|accessdate = 2015-06-26}}</ref> In 2018, the Indo-French fashion house Lecoanet Hemant made a gown for Princess Ananya Raje Scindia of Gwalior.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/VKqexKfNo5dsaCssPpfl6O/A-waltz-for-a-night.html|title=A waltz for a night|last=Dey|first=Sohini|website=Mint|language=en|access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref> Jet Li's daughter Jane Li was dressed by Dior in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3041943/jet-lis-daughter-jane-li-stepping-out-debutante-le-bal-and|title=Was it for me? Jet Li's daughter Jane Li on debutantes' ball|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=2020-02-20}}</ref>

In 2008, French actor [[Jean Rochefort]]'s daughter Clémence made her debut wearing a [[Nina Ricci (brand)|Nina Ricci]] ball gown.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Le Figaro|last = Lutaud|first = Léna|date = 26 November 2011|work = Le Grand Retour du Bal des Débutantes}}</ref> Anna Cleveland van Ravenstein, on the other hand, had been modeling for Chanel for years before "Uncle" [[Karl Lagerfeld]] helped her to pick out a vintage gown for le Bal.<ref name="my.asiatatler.com">{{Cite web|title=Exclusive: An insider's view to the annual Bal des Débutantes in Paris|url=http://my.asiatatler.com/society/exclusive-insider-view-crillon-debutante-ball-paris-2015|accessdate=2015-12-13|website=Malaysia Tatler}}</ref>

[[File:Sokhna Ndour and Anouchka Delon got dressed for le Bal 2008.jpg|thumb|right|Deb Sokhna N'dour dressing for le Bal in 2008]]
The ball takes place on a Saturday, but preparations include meeting the débutantes, their families and their cavaliers in advance.<ref name="SundayTimes2012">{{cite news|last = Johnson|first = Rachel|title = Swishly Ballroom|newspaper = The Sunday Times|date = 8 January 2012}}</ref>

On the eve of ''le Bal'', a Friday, the débutantes come together for the first time. Makeup and hair styling sessions start at 9:00am: with By Terry for makeup<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.purepeople.com/media/exclusif-illustrations-debutantes-a_m4458515|title=PHOTOS - Exclusif - Illustrations - Débutantes à l'hôtel Shangri-La Hotel, Paris - Le Bal 2018, vingt-sixième édition - Paris, le 24 novembre 2018 © Le Bal / Borde-Jacov|website=purepeople.com|language=fr|access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref> and with [[Louis Alexandre Raimon|Alexandre de Paris]] for hair.<ref>{{Cite web|title = So you wanna look like a debutante? M.A.C takes us behind the scenes at the Crillon Ball in Paris |url = http://www.fashionmagazine.com/beauty/2011/12/07/so-you-wanna-look-like-a-debutante-m-a-c-takes-us-behind-the-scenes-at-the-crillon-ball-in-paris/|website = FASHION Magazine |date = 7 December 2011|accessdate = 2015-10-07}}</ref> After this, the débutantes put on their dresses, [[long gloves]], shoes,<ref name="parismatch.com">{{cite web|title = Bal des débutantes – 25 jeunes filles du monde qui font rêver|url = http://www.parismatch.com/People/Spectacles/25-jeunes-filles-venues-du-monde-entier-qui-font-rever-658928|accessdate = 2015-06-26}}</ref> and jewels, and there are individual and group photo sessions<ref name="You2008">{{cite journal |last=Methven |first=Charlotte |title=The Woman Who Reshaped High Society |journal=You |pages=51, 53}}</ref> which last for the rest of the day.<ref name="SundayTimes2012" /> On Friday evening, the débutantes' fathers and cavaliers are offered a waltz class with two dance teachers.<ref name="SundayTimes2012" />

[[File:Le Bal des debutantes 2009 Paris debs dancing.jpg|thumb|right|Debs dance and talk at the 2009 Ball at the Hôtel de Crillon.]]
The débutantes are introduced in alphabetical order on the arms of their cavaliers<ref name=SundayTimes2012 /> by journalist and author [[Stéphane Bern]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Dutour|first=Edouard|title=J'y étais ... au Bal des débutantes|journal=Elle|page=42|language=fr}}</ref> Then the dinner is served.<ref name="Aujourd2008">{{cite journal|last=Bureau|first=Eric|title=Le Bal des Débutantes les fait tous rêver|journal=Aujourd'hui en France|language=fr}}</ref> After dinner, the débutantes who are the most followed by the media open ''le Bal'', followed by all of the fathers with their daughters.<ref name="Aujourd2008" /><ref name="PointVue2008Lauriot">{{cite journal|last=Lauriot Prévost|first=Marie-Etudes|title=Un casting de rêve|journal=Point de Vue|page=36}}</ref>

===Opening dance===
Each year since 2005, there has been a débutante who opens the dancing with a waltz.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/01/le-bal-des-debutantes-paris|title=Inside Paris's 25th Annual le Bal des Débutantes|last=Colacello|first=Bob|magazine=Vanity Fair|issue=February|language=en|access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref>

* 2005: [[Bianca Brandolini d'Adda]] with the master of ceremony, [[Prince Charles Philippe, Duke of Anjou|Prince Charles-Philippe d'Orléans]]<ref>{{Cite web|title = Paillettes et jeunes filles en fleur au bal des débutantes|url = http://www.leparisien.fr/loisirs-et-spectacles/paillettes-et-jeunes-filles-en-fleur-au-bal-des-debutantes-27-11-2005-2006511089.php|website = leparisien.fr|date = 26 November 2005|accessdate = 2015-10-15|language = fr}}</ref>
* 2006: Xiaodan Chen with Stéphane Bern<ref>{{Cite web|title = Lady in Red: 'Princess' Chen Xiaodan casts a mysterious spell｜WCT|url = http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news/content?id=20120125000013&cid=1601|accessdate = 2015-10-15|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151117015345/http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news/content?id=20120125000013&cid=1601|archive-date = 17 November 2015|url-status=dead|df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = Heirs of Mao's Comrades Rise as New Capitalist Nobility|url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-12-26/immortals-beget-china-capitalism-from-citic-to-godfather-of-golf|website = Bloomberg.com|accessdate = 2015-10-15|first = Bloomberg|last = News|date = 26 December 2012}}</ref>
* 2007: Maria Abou Nader with Stéphane Bern<ref>{{Cite web|title = Stéphane Bern ouvre le bal – Les débutantes entrent dans la danse sur Journal des Femmes People|url = http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/people/bal-des-debutantes-2007/stephane-bern-ouvre-le-bal.shtml|website = www.journaldesfemmes.com|accessdate = 2015-10-15}}</ref>
* 2008: [[Bruce Willis]] and [[Alain Delon]] launched ''le Bal'' together, leading Scout Larue Willis in [[Christian Lacroix|Lacroix]] Haute Couture and [[Anouchka Delon]] in [[Elie Saab]] Haute Couture, with the waltz from [[Luchino Visconti]]'s film Il Gattopardo<ref>{{Cite web|title = Anouchka Delon – La biographie de Anouchka Delon avec Gala.fr|url = http://www.gala.fr/stars_et_gotha/anouchka_delon|website = Gala.fr|accessdate = 2015-10-15}}</ref>
* 2009: Autumn Whitaker with [[Forest Whitaker]], and Jasmine Li with Stéphane Bern<ref>{{Cite web|title = EXCLU : Regardez le magnifique et féérique Bal des débutantes... avec un débutant "fils de" !|url = http://www.purepeople.com/article/exclu-regardez-le-magnifique-et-feerique-bal-des-debutantes-avec-un-debutant-fils-de_a45064/1|website = www.purepeople.com|accessdate = 2015-10-15}}</ref>
* 2011: Tallulah Willis with Bruce Willis{{Citation needed}}
* 2012: Sophia Rose Stallone in [[Elie Saab]] Haute Couture with [[Sylvester Stallone]]<ref>{{Cite web|title = Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris – Vogue.it|url = http://www.vogue.it/en/people-are-talking-about/parties-events/2012/11/le-bal-des-debutantes-in-paris|website = www.vogue.it|accessdate = 2015-10-15}}</ref>
* 2014: Princess Elizabeth of [[Bourbon-Parma]] in [[Alexis Mabille]] Haute Couture with Prince Charles-Emmanuel of Bourbon-Parma<ref name="madame.lefigaro.fr"/><ref>{{Cite web|title = Bienvenue au Bal des Débutantes|url = http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/societe/bienvenue-au-bal-des-debutantes/charlotte-de-bourbon-parme-et-son-pere-le-prince-charles-emmanuel.shtml|website = Le Journal des Femmes|accessdate = 2015-10-15}}</ref>
* 2015: [[Iman Perez]] with Vincent Perez<ref>{{Cite web|title = Le bal des Débutantes : Iman, la sublime fille de Vincent Perez fait sensation|url = http://www.puretrend.com/article/le-bal-des-debutantes-iman-la-sublime-fille-de-vincent-perez-fait-sensation_a140390/1|website = www.puretrend.com|accessdate = 2016-01-06}}</ref><ref name="leparisien.fr">{{Cite web|title = La photo souvenir des vingt participantes du Bal des débutantes de Paris|url = http://www.leparisien.fr/laparisienne/actu-people/la-photo-souvenir-des-vingt-participantes-du-bal-des-debutantes-de-paris-28-11-2015-5321587.php|website = leparisien.fr|date = 28 November 2015|accessdate = 2016-01-06|language = fr}}</ref> and Countess Gloria de [[Limburg-Stirum]] with Count Thierry de Limburg-Stirum<ref name="leparisien.fr"/>
* 2016: Countess Angélique de Limburg-Stirum and her father Thierry de Limburg-Stirum opened the ball,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.purepeople.com/media/la-comtesse-angelique-de-limburg-stirum_m2857769|title=PHOTOS - La comtesse Angélique de Limburg-Stirum (robe Georges Hobeika) et son père le comte Thierry de Limburg-Stirum - Le Bal - Vingt-quatrième édition du Bal à l'hôte|website=www.purepeople.com|language=fr|access-date=2020-02-20}}</ref> followed by Yu Hang<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.purepeople.com/media/invites-et-familles-yu-hang-robe-alex_m2857907|title=PHOTOS - Invités et familles - Yu Hang (robe Alexander McQueen) et Luís Figo - Vingt-quatrième édition du Bal à l'hôtel Peninsula à Paris, le 26 novembre 2016. Les début|website=www.purepeople.com|language=fr|access-date=2020-02-20}}</ref> and Elle Beatty.{{Citation needed}}
* 2017: [[Ava Philippe]] in [[Giambattista Valli]] haute couture danced with her escort, Maharaja [[Padmanabh Singh]] of [[Jaipur]]. The two danced to a song from the film ''[[La La Land (film)|La La Land]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://people.com/celebrity/ava-phillippe-paris-debutante-debut/|title=Ava Phillippe Dazzles in Paris Debutante Debut|newspaper=Peoplemag }}</ref>
*2018: True Whitaker and her father [[Forest Whitaker]] opened le Bal, along with then Annabel Yao and her cavalier Jean de Croÿ-Solre and Gabrielle de Pourtalès and Stéphane Bern.{{Citation needed}}
*2019: French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo's daughter Stella Belmondo opened le Bal with Stéphane Bern,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://madame.lefigaro.fr/celebrites/video-bal-des-debutantes-stella-belmondo-et-stephane-bern-premiere-danse-soiree-011219-178535|title=En vidéo, Stella Belmondo et Stéphane Bern ouvrent le Bal des débutantes sur le "Beau Danube bleu"|last=Figaro|first=Madame|website=Madame Figaro|access-date=2020-02-20}}</ref> followed by Shanaya Kapoor<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.in/fashion/content/shanaya-kapoor-le-bal-debut-debutante-ball-paris-couture-lecoanet-hemant|title=Shanaya Kapoor's Cinderella moment at the exclusive debutante ball in Paris, Le Bal|website=Vogue India|language=en-IN|access-date=2020-02-20}}</ref> and Iglesias twins Victoria and Cristina.{{Citation needed}}
*2022: The French Royal Princess Hélène of Orléans opened le Bal with her father the Duke of Chartres, followed by Wenhao Cai and her father the Chinese artist [[Cai Guo-Qiang]] and Leah Behn, the daughter of the Royal Princess Martha Louise of Norway, and Stéphane Bern.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Natasha Connery, Hélène d'Orléans, Eileen Gu... Qui sont les débutantes du Bal 2022 ? |url=https://madame.lefigaro.fr/celebrites/actu-people/natasha-connery-helene-d-orleans-eileen-gu-qui-sont-les-debutantes-du-bal-2022-20221125 |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=Madame Figaro |language=fr}}</ref>

This opening dance is followed by a waltz with all of the fathers and débutantes. The fathers then cede their daughters to the cavaliers, and the waltz is replaced with contemporary music with a live band. The debs then return their dresses and their jewels. The débutantes and their cavaliers finish the evening out clubbing.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Figaro Madame|last = Galy-Ramounot|first = Marion|date = 25 November 2012|work = Bal des Débutantes : J'y étais}}</ref>

== Media coverage ==
[[File:Le bal des debutantes paris 2011 group picture.jpg|thumb|The 2011 Debs photographed at le Bal]]

Coverage often emphasizes the cachet of the event and its elegance.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Folha de S.Paulo|last = Cardoso|first = Cíntia|date = 7 December 2008|work = Cinderela em Paris}}</ref> It has been claimed that "''Le Bal'' has really maintained its exclusivity; all the top designers participate, and there have never been any sleazy photographs of the débutantes."<ref>{{Cite news|title = Philippine Tatler|last = Fraser-Cavassoni|first = Natasha|date = February 2010|work = The Ball Issue: Having a Ball}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|45em|refs=

<ref name=exp>Thomas Lenoir (9 July 1959, updated 26 November 2011). [https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/le-bal-des-debutantes-de-1959_1055159.html Le bal des débutantes... de 1959] (in French). ''L'Express''. Accessed July 2021.</ref>

<ref name=fig>Sophie Guerrier (28 November 2014). [http://www.lefigaro.fr/histoire/2014/11/28/26001-20141128ARTFIG00322-dans-les-coulisses-du-premier-bal-des-debutantes.php Dans les coulisses du premier Bal des débutantes] (in French). ''Le Figaro''. Accessed July 2018.</ref>

}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.lebal.paris/en/}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bal Des Debutantes}}
[[Category:Fashion events in France]]
[[Category:Annual events in France]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1992]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Events in Paris]]
[[Category:Debutante balls]]
[[Category:Balls in France]]

Bal des débutantes - Revision history

Zoyahssn at 12:25, 27 January 2023