The annual Dragon Ball was once a highlight of the Australian-Chinese calendar.
Its forty years since the Dragon Ball closed its doors for the final time.
And for one night only on Saturday, it was back - to mark the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations.
Sydney-siders danced to big-band sounds through the '40s, '50s and '60s as local girls were presented as debutants.
It was a time when the sound was smooth. The dresses: glamorous.
And when young Australian-Chinese women could be introduced to society.
“It wasn't ever a traditional Chinese event, it wasn't ever about old-fashioned things or things from home,” says Dragon Ball Director Kris Stewart. “It was about being Chinese in Sydney today, and it was as much about Australian culture and contemporary culture, pop music as it ever was.”
“I think it really changes people's perceptions perhaps, about the Chinese community and its history,” says Chinese New Year Festival Director Gill Minervini. “This was the ticket, the social ticket in Sydney. I've heard stories of people scalping doing whatever they could to get a ticket.”
“We've stuck pretty much to format, in terms of how it used to be done - except there are no debutants at our ball!”
No debutantes, but characters from the old days, such as 89 year old Lily Ma.
“The Dragon Ball was organised by a group called the Young Chinese Relief Movement, which originally started to raise funds for the war victims in China, that was back in 1933-34,” says Lily.
Traditionally, the Dragon Festival Ball Princesses also raised money for charities - an orphanage in Taiwan, a retirement home in Hong Kong, as well as Australian causes.
And for 35 years the Ball provided significant moments for Lily and her husband, who was on the committee. Her sister making her debut, then years later, her daughter.
“It gave the children a chance of mixing with other people, and also to understand a little bit more both the culture of the Chinese idea of things, and the Australian way,” Lily recalls.
The night bringing back fond memories for King Fong, on the organising committee from 1960.
“At that time, there weren't many of us in Sydney, only a few thousand,” explains Fong. “And it was a once a year item that we look forward to, to integrate with our Caucasian friends in the community.”
The Dragon Balls went into decline when the Whitlam Government decided to recognise the People's Republic of China, and not Taiwan.
Dying out as society changed, the dance palaces closed, and being a debutant was no longer essential.
And so for those who've - down all the years - kept the music in their hearts, it was one last chance. To take the floor and let the memories linger.
