10 Deaf Debutantes at a Ball

For the first time in the history of New Zealand, ten deaf debutantes were presented at a ball last night. Held in the banquet hall of the Farmers’ Trading Company, the ball was organised by the Auckland Adult Deaf Society, which, in promoting this new idea, hopes to make it an annual event. The girls were presented to the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Mrs T. W. M. Ashby.

The guests of honour were Mr D. Nathan, president of the Friends of the Deaf Incorporated, and Mrs Nathan, Mr C. Allen, principal of the School for the Deaf at Titirangi, and Mrs Allen, Mr W. Williams, president of the Auckland Deaf Society, and Mrs Williams and Mr S. Smith, secretary of the Deaf Society, and Mrs Smith.

Mrs Allen acted as matron of honour for the debutantes, two of whom came from Morrinsville and southern Waikato to attend the ball.

Deaf people are usually very good dancers, as their sense of rhythm becomes highly developed when they have learned to follow the vibrations of the music. The only special training the girls received was in waltzing and curtsying. The only departure from the usual took place when the Mayor gave his address. Instead of standing behind him, after they had been presented, the debutantes stood facing him, so that they could “hear” his speech by lip-reading.

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