What is the history of the Proms in the uK?even though i was born here, i dont get what all the fuss is about?

Question

the BBC is showing the proms all week? what is it? why is it so important? is it something to do with the british empire? because only white people are in the audience?

Answer 1

In the United States and Canada, a prom, short for promenade, is used to describe a formal dance held at the end of the high school academic year. In the United Kingdom the term is more widely understood to be in referance to a season of classical concerts or "proms", which have been held between July and September since 1811, today run by the BBC. The British synonym for the North American event would be Leavers Ball, or Leavers Dinner, closer to the Australian description (see below.)

While proms at smaller schools may be open to the entire student body, large schools may hold two proms, a junior prom for those finishing their 11th grade year and a senior prom for those who are finishing their high school years. The name is derived from the late nineteenth century practice of a promenade ball. The end of year tradition stemmed from the graduation ball tradition.

Boys usually dress in black tie (a dinner jacket and bow tie), sometimes with brightly colored cummerbunds or vests, though any sort of formal wear can be worn. Traditionally, girls gave boys matching boutonnieres to be worn on the tuxedoes. Girls traditionally wear formal gowns or dresses adorned with a corsage given them by their date. Often times, boys and girls will dress according to the theme of the prom - e.g. pastel suits for a Miami Vice-themed prom.

Common prom activities include dining, dancing, the crowning of a prom King and Queen, and socializing. In some cases, high school students accumulate funds for their class prom through fundraisers over the four years they attend their high school. High schools in or near large cities may rent ballrooms at expensive hotels or, to be unusual, venues such as a pleasure cruise boat. Many students group together to take limousines to their proms. Often costs are cut by using the school gym, which challenges the decorating committee to somehow mask the gym odor and drab surfaces. Music played during the dance portion of the event is normally the genre(s) most popular with the attendees.

Many high school students feel that prom is the most romantic night of their lives. They may go in a group that includes a person they have known for years; other times, students just try to find a date that they like. Many find it to be just as fun to attend with friends, not worrying about the dating aspect of the prom. Because of the age of the attendees, parents, teachers, or others usually act as chaperones for the prom and after-prom activities. The use of chaperones is intended to prevent the occurrence of violence or alcohol/drug abuse.

Some universities and colleges have proms as well, depending on the size of the graduating class in a faculty or department.

Prom King and Queen

A Prom Queen is a woman who is elected to be, as the name suggests, queen of the prom. She becomes Prom Queen by her fellow students casting votes and electing their queen. Although the Prom Queen is usually the most popular girl, any student from class is eligible to be voted.

The Prom Queen is partnered with a Prom King who is elected similarly. They both have a Prom King and Queen dance to celebrate their election.
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Related Social Gatherings

As described in the introduction, in British English, such an event might be called a ball, although in Australia, and New Zealand it is also often called a School Formal as well as a Ball. In Australian schools the terms used are either School Formal or sometimes as Leavers' Dinner or Debutant Ball, usually so when the night includes a meal.

In Sweden it is known as a studentbalen, while in Ireland it is known as a debs (an abbreviation of debutante ball). In the U.S. a "formal" is typically a similar dance that is held by a fraternity or sorority affiliated with a certain college or university. In Australia, the term "prom" has also come into sparse usage and in Britain it is becoming widespread, because of US influence, especially the influence of American movies and television.

Germans will celebrate Abiball after graduating from the Gymnasium.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prom

Answer 2

The proms have been going for well over 100 years. They started off as a way of making "serious" music available to ordinary people. You'll find people of all races in the audience although the mix tends to vary depending on what is playing.

The jingoistic bit comes with the second part of the final concert each year. When the proms started, singing patriotic songs and waving flags was considered quite normal. It's probably harmless enough for the people taking part, although this kind of behaviour is no longer considered politically correct. There's no need to feel threatened by it.

Answer 3

The Proms is 111 years old and still remains true to its original aim: to present the widest possible range of music, performed to the highest standards, to large audiences.

The first Proms concert took place on 10 August 1895 and was the brainchild of the impresario Robert Newman, manager of the newly built Queen's Hall in London.

While Newman had previously organised symphony orchestra concerts at the hall, his aim was to reach a wider audience by offering more popular programmes, adopting a less formal promenade arrangement, and keeping ticket prices low.

Basically the Proms were to get as many people listening to as much variety of music as possible. Before TV. It was to allow those not well-off to appreciate the same quality of composition and performance as those who had money.

These days it is just another choice of programming.

Answer 4

Oh Stumbling, it seems you are stumbled! Well, prom is just a name given to the get-together of a class of students! It is an occasion to celebrate the end of one's school life!

As for your reference to a BBC program showing only gatherings of white people at such proms, I am not sure why but if it is a case of racism, it leaves much to be desired of a world class broadcasting house like the BBC!
They have a case to answer for such an exclusive focus on one section of the community!

Answer 5

Firstly not only white people are in the audience, I saw many asian etc last night. The songs and music at the last night are just traditional. They tried to change it one year, but there was such an outcry from those attending that they quickly went back to the original. It's just a great fun night, they could sell the tickets 10x.

Answer 6

The original color of the Statue of Liberty was black because it was made of copper, which is dark in color. The model for "Lady Liberty" was the wife of Frederic Bartholdi (she was not black) Also if the statue was in honor if the Black soldiers who fought in the civil war (they fought on the confederate side as well) why would they use a woman as a model when all of the civil war soldiers were men?

Answer 7

Hope this helps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proms