For a truly time stopping experience, guests were transported by Second Star Events to dance until morning in Neverland.
NEVERLAND: THE NEW YORK CITY HALL OF RECORDS
Over the course of two autum nights, the Neverland Ball was held amid the grand marble staircases and vaulted ceilings of New York City’s Hall of Records. Opening in 1911, the Hall of Records was designed in a french baroque style with rich decoration featuring imported Italian marble, carved english oak, and a mythic mosaic of zodiac signs and egyptian iconography.
Photos are courtesy of @MelanieRoseFantasy
GUEST PERFORMANCES
Derek Klena was met with applause while serenading attendees with renditions of animated classics from Hunchback of Notre Dame to Anastasia.
An American actor and singer, Derek is best known for his work on Broadway, including originating the roles of Nick Healy in Jagged Little Pill, Dmitry in Anastasia, and Michael in The Bridges of Madison County.
More recently, he appeared as Christian in Moulin Rouge on Broadway.
For the October Ball, Molly Katharine (@Scarlette.O.Hair) dressed as a forest fairy and sang a rendition of Florence and the Machine’s “Dream Girl Evil.”
For the November Ball, she sang the iconic melody “The Voice” dripping in crystals and pearls with an ensemble featuring designs by Chotronette and The House of Junon.
**A fantastic fact: Irish singer Eimear Quinn won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1996 with the song, “The Voice.”
THE MUSIC
The DJ spun a curated playlist comprised of attendees favorite songs. The playlists were compiled from suggestions on the official Second Star Events and Neverland Ball discord. Enjoy the playlists for the evening listed below:
QUESTS AND ACTIVITIES
If one needed a respite from the dancefloor, a myriad of activities and quests were planned.
Pixie Dust
A station for making a souvenir bottle of pixie dust allowed attendees to commemorate the moment and take a bit of the magic home. While filling their bottles, some sprinkled the fine shimmer over their heads. One attendee joyously got carried away and covered themselves completely in the gold glitter.
Friendship Bracelets & Fairy Doors
Tucked away behind the lively ballroom, one could find a flower cushion and delight in friendship bracelet making or painting a fairy door.
Side Quests
For those feeling adventures, side quests—aka a hunt for qr codes—resulted in a prismatic prize: a crystal rainbow maker.
GROUP DANCES
For the November Ball, producers, Laura and MJ, requested that myself and the talented @MelanieRoseFantasy create two group dances for the evening. Over the week, we devised two dances within the theme of the ball: a pirate dance and a fairy dance. We were both over the moon with the joy the dances inspired. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Drunken Sailor Dance
Music: Preformed to the classic Irish sea shanty “Drunken Sailor”
Steps: Create two parallel lines with partners facing each other.
1. “Raise the Flag”
Step toward your partner and touch palm to palm over your heads. Then step back into line dropping palms.
2. “Raise the Other Flag”
Step toward your partner and touching palm to palm over your heads. Then step back into line dropping palms.
3. “X Marks the Spot”
Cross arms with your partner and do-si-do. Make one and a half circles switching places across the line.
4. “Cannon Ball”
Everyone arms up making a tunnel aka “cannon.” The cannonball—a set of partners at the end of the line—runs through the tunnel to the opposite side.
5. “Ahoy” & “Aye Aye Captain”
When the “cannon ball” reaches the end, the captin of the dance calls “Ahoy!” and everyone answers “Aye Aye Captin!” taking a step to the end of the line where the partners ran from.
Fairy Circle
Music: Performed to the celtic classic “Tír na nÓg”
Steps: Begin holding hands in a circle.
1. “Fairy Vine” Left
Grapevine three steps to the left and kick.
2. “Fairy Vine” Right
Grapevine three steps to the right and kick.
3. Fairy Circle (2x)
Raise arms and walk into the circle. Lower arms and walk out of circle.
4. Twirl
Drop hands and twirl one circle.
5. “I do believe in fairies!”
Clap quickly three times.
**A fantastical fact, Tír na nÓg is the celtic name of the otherworld or supernatural realm—perfect for a fairy circle dance. “
DO YOU BELIEVE IN FAIRIES?
Twenty years after the premiere of Peter Pan (2003), I led esteemed guests and attendees at #NeverlandBall2023 in the blissful chant from the film.
Featuring @secondstarevents_ @queen_astraea @asta.darling @tallglassofcline @designerdaddy_ @bethaniegarcia @scarlett.o.hair
HAPPY THOUGHTS
For the evening, I asked esteemed guests and attendees to answer the question, “If happy thoughts could make you fly, what would be your happy thought?”
CAPTURING THE MOMENT
Appearing in their finest fae, mermaid, and pirate costumes, attendees donned everything from glittering wings to seafoam gowns to ships atop hats. On hand, a host of photographers and decorated photos booths captured the merriment.
Ellie Desautels of Ever Films weaved and dashed through the crowd fantastically capturing the evening—including multiple spontaneous engagements—while event photographers, @GetLizziWithIt and Kokoeva Photography indulged guest with iconic portraits on the grand staircase.
For VIP guests, fantasy photographer Lizabet Roberts created a custom set featuring a cloudy night sky glittering with led stars. Featured here with Liza’s artistry and in a Chotronette gown is @DeadWrathandBeyond, an artist whose fantasy daggers were part of the Second Star Events giveaway.
SOCIAL BUTTERFLIES
Social butterflies for the evening included @QueenAstrea, @TallGlassofCline, @AstaDarling. @Designer Daddy_, and @BethanyGarcia.
For both evenings, Queen Astrea wore a gown worthy of a fairytale from Firefly Path accented with translucent wings from Hello Faerie and a crown from Carbickova Crowns.
In November, Designer Daddy and Bethany Garcia made a show stopping entrance with original designs. Dressed as the villian from Peter Pan, Designer Daddy appeared in a grand Captain Hook costume. Bethany was dressed as the lantern with which Captain Hook traps Tinker Bell—the animated shadow of the fairy flickering across the dress. This fantastical feat of the imagination was achieved through a collaboration with Engineered Couture—creating a baroque golden gown lit from inside with 10,800 LEDs and 180 watts of power controlled from a wireless smart device.
Over the two evenings, Asta darling twirled in two original designs.The first, an homage to the second star to the right —a sparkling light blue tulle and crystal gown with celestial motifs. The second—a cream and golden Edwardian tinkerbelle including animated wings (that apparently caused a stir at airport security).
For the October ball, Sarah Cline (@TallGlassofCline) was queen of pirate queens in a gown by Chotronette and a custom pirate hat by Tatiana’s Wardrobe.
For the November ball, she attended as violet and cobalt fairy. The costume featured custom wings by On Gossamer Wings with shadowy scenes reminiscent of the Disney’s animated Peter Pan film. Matching the vibrant palette of the floral gown by Chotronette, a crown from Titania’s wardrobe was accented with clockhands and numbers—an homage to iconic landmark, Big Ben.
EXPLORE UPCOMING SECOND STAR EVENTS ON THE FANTASY CALENDAR:
FANTASTIGAL DISCLAIMER:
Fantastigal purchased full price VIP tickets for both Neverland Balls. Fantastigal was a volunteer for Second Star Events for the second Neverland Ball in November.
