On Friday 25th February, 2011, Donald Francis and his Atelier de Danse held their 25th Bal Costumé at Palazzo Borghese in the historic centre of Florence. Palazzo Borghese, once owned by the Borghese princes in Rome, is a series of salons and Ballrooms, one more splendid than the other.

It was a glorious  weekend with people coming from all over the world to celebrate this special occasion.

The Costume Ball (second empire - Victorian - 1860 - 1900) began at 9.30pm with the first dance at 10pm. Tickets numbers had been limited to assure a space in the Sala dei Specchi for all the dancers.

The Buffet Froid was made up of dishes known to have been served at similar Balls 150 years ago and cooked to original recipes. It was a special feast for the eyes and taste buds!

Click on the image to see more photos!