The historic San Remo Ballroom reopened its doors last December to welcome some 400 university students from all over Victoria. It was an unforgettable evening, organised by the Victorian Italo-Australian Tertiary Association (VITA), designed to honour the Bel Paese and its many impacts.
As is now tradition, the VITA association, which is made up of the Italian clubs of the University of Melbourne, Monash University and RMIT, take the opportunity each year to transport students to Italy, paying homage to its golden ages and timeless wonders.
The annual grand ball is scheduled for September 9, and this year will celebrate the beauty of the Amalfi Coast with the theme ‘Paradise in Positano’.
From the brightly coloured cliff top houses enmeshed in the rocks to the steps that resonate like piano keys; from the stone walls to the lemon tree branche laden with fruit: every detail will be taken care of in order to immerse guests in the typical atmosphere of one of the most famous Italian villages in the world.
“Every year we welcome hundreds of people and it is wonderful to be able to honour the traditions of our grandparents and parents, but above all to try not to lose them,” said Lara Renata Partridge, academic officer of VITA.
For the 2022 Italian Ball, the executive committee has already organised an ‘Aperol Spritz Bar’, curated by Saluministi, and canapés on arrival, as well as a four-course menu, unlimited drinks and plenty of live music to light up the dance floor.
Guests are also invited to wear evening attire, not only so as not to make “brutta figura con i nonni” (a bad impression on their grandparents), but also because there is a prize for the ‘most elegant’ guest, as well as one for the ‘most beautiful couple’.
“It is sad to see how younger people are moving away from their roots: many don’t want to get involved or simply aren’t interested,” Partridge continued, “which is why we will continue to ensure that the passion for Italian culture blossoms again”.
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