Ballroom Dancing

Actually Cute Ballroom Dance Ideas? My Clothes..?

The dress code reads “Dresses or skirts and blouses, white gloves, and leather soled party shoes with a back or strap. No midriffs, denim, leggings, strapless dresses, halter tops.”
Problem is, I’m the kind of girl who lives for black, punk, skinny jeans, and hoodies. My tips (hair) are dyed purple as well, but I do like frills – a little. Any ideas on how to keep my style, the dress code, and a little bit of girliness? Help, please.

What do you think of this novel opening?

I know it’s long, but if you care to read it all the way through, what do you think of it? What’s good and what isn’t? If you get bored and stop reading, I don’t blame you!
Thanks for any advice and opinions in advance.

Abigail Malone wished she was somewhere else. Though she appreciated her fiance’s kind gesture of throwing this party to congratulate her for her acceptance into North University, it was entirely unnecessary. As she stood off to the side of the ballroom, she surveyed the guests attending in her honor. Men young and old in their tuxedos mingled with women in flashy dresses that spanned the entire color wheel. They were dancing to old music. Piano jazz from the early 2000′s, mainly. That’s what they always listened to at parties at the king’s mansion.
She wasn’t a fan of parties because the only ones she had ever attended were formal. They were always the same. Everyone always acted as if they liked each other when in most cases, no one did. People were only nice to you if you had something they wanted. Money, popularity, or you know someone they want to know. Or they want to figure out where you got your shoes. That sort of thing.
Abigail’s eyes stopped scanning when they fell on her fiance several feet away. She watched his square jaw work as he held polite conversation with a small group of guests that Abigail vaguely recognized but she couldn’t place any of their names. When he noticed her watching, he said something to his guests with a cordial smile before excusing himself to make his way over to her.
“Why are you being so shy tonight?” Felix North asked, setting his untouched glass of bubbling champagne down on a passing server’s platter. His eyes were almost as black as his perfectly groomed and side-parted hair.
“I’m not being shy,” she said. “I just don’t want to talk to anyone. This party is a bit much, don’t you think?”
He gave her a coaxing grin and said, “Come on. You got accepted into North University. Isn’t that an accomplishment worth celebrating?”
“That’s not an accomplishment,” she argued under her breath as two young women in matching sunshine yellow gowns passed by, giving Abigail and Felix matching overly dramatic smiles as they did so.
“Everyone knows there was no effort involved on my part,” she said in normal volume. “I feel like you’re rubbing my social status in all these people’s faces rather than my accomplishments.”
“Your social status?” he repeated. “You mean, the prince’s fiance?” he was grinning still. Abigail hadn’t seen him in such a good mood in weeks.
“Yeah, that,” she said, still sour but beginning to lighten up.
He took her hand and said, “I would think that’s quite the accomplishment in itself, wouldn’t you?”
“You’re full of yourself,” she said.
“And you look lovely,” he said of her deep purple slinky gown. “Dance with me,” he began to lead her out onto the floor. After they started walking, he looked back at her to say, “You took all the tests, and passed them exceptionally. You had your interview just like everyone else, and naturally, the board loved you.”
“Because the board was mainly comprised of you and your father,” Abigail said as Felix pulled her in and they began to twirl lazily around the room.
“The king is entitled to love anyone he pleases,” Felix said, his voice still airy. “And so does his son,” he grinned.
“Seriously, what’s got you so happy all of the sudden?” Abigail asked. “You’ve been gloomy all month and now all you’re doing is smiling. It’s freaking me out.”
“I just needed a night like this to lift my spirits,” he said before giving her a twirl under his finger.
“So this party was for you, not me.”
Felix chuckled and pulled her back toward him. “It’s for you, love,” he said. “And I’m enjoying myself in your honor.”
“Mhm,” she mumbled.
“We succeed together.”
Abigail and Felix had only been engaged for five months. Before that, they were betrothed for several years until shortly after she turned 18. Felix had always been a major part of Abigail’s life. According to Queen Violet, he had been there when she was born, a three year old child excitedly waiting without really understanding what he was waiting for. But all the adults were excited, so he shared their joy. And he had been by her side ever since.
When the queen used to tell Abigail that story, she would quickly skip over the few hours that took place after she was born and go on to tell amusing stories about her early childhood, not mentioning anything about the fact that Abigail’s mother wasn’t in it because she had died shortly after delivering her.

How’s this for a novel opening?

I know it’s long, but if you care to read it all the way through, what do you think of it? What’s good and what isn’t? If you get bored and stop reading, I don’t blame you!
Thanks for any advice and opinions in advance.

Abigail Malone wished she was somewhere else. Though she appreciated her fiance’s kind gesture of throwing this party to congratulate her for getting accepted into North University, it was entirely unnecessary. As she stood off to the side of the ballroom, she surveyed the guests attending in her honor. Men young and old looking like penguins in their tuxedos mingled with women in flashy dresses that spanned the entire color wheel. They were dancing to old music. Piano jazz from the mid 1900′s to early 2000′s , mainly. That’s what they always listened to at parties at the king’s mansion.
She wasn’t a fan of parties because the only ones she had ever attended were formal. They were always the same. Everyone always acted like they liked each other when in most cases, no one did. People were only nice to you if you had something they wanted. Money, popularity, or you know someone they want to know. Or they want to figure out where you got your shoes. That sort of thing.
Abigail’s eyes stopped scanning when they fell on her fiance several feet away. She watched his square jaw work as he held polite conversation with a small group of guests that Abigail vaguely recognized but couldn’t place any of their names. When he noticed her watching, he said something to his guests with a cordial smile before excusing himself to make his way over to her.
“Why are you being so shy tonight?” Felix North asked, setting his untouched glass of bubbling champagne down on a passing server’s platter. His eyes were almost as black as his perfectly groomed and side-parted hair.
“I’m not being shy,” she said. “I just don’t want to talk to anyone. This party is a bit much, don’t you think?”
He gave her a coaxing grin and said, “Come on. You got accepted into North University. Isn’t that an accomplishment worth celebrating?”
“That’s not an accomplishment,” she argued under her breath as two young women in matching sunshine yellow gowns passed by, giving Abigail and Felix matching overly dramatic smiles as they did.
“Everyone knows there was no effort involved on my part,” she said in normal volume. “I feel like you’re rubbing my social status in all these people’s faces rather than my accomplishments.”
“Your social status?” he repeated. “You mean, the prince’s fiance?” he was grinning still. Abigail hadn’t seen him in such a good mood in weeks.
“Yeah, that,” she said, still sour but beginning to lighten up.
He took her hand and said, “I would think that’s quite the accomplishment in itself, wouldn’t you?”
“You’re full of yourself,” she said.
“And you look lovely,” he said of her deep purple slinky gown. “Dance with me,” he began to lead her out onto the floor. After they started walking, he looked back at her to say, “You took all the tests, and passed them exceptionally. You had your interview just like everyone else, and naturally, the board loved you.”
“Because the board was mainly comprised of you and your father,” Abigail said as Felix pulled her in and they began to twirl lazily around the room.
“The king is entitled to love anyone he pleases,” Felix said, his voice still light. “And so does his son,” he grinned.
“Seriously, what’s got you so happy all of the sudden?” Abigail asked. “You’ve been gloomy all month and now all you’re doing is smiling. It’s freaking me out.”
“I just needed a night like this to lift my spirits,” he said before giving her a twirl under his finger.
“So this party was for you, not me.”
Felix chuckled and pulled her back toward him. “It’s for you, love,” he said. “And I’m enjoying myself in your honor.”
“Mhm,” she mumbled.
“We succeed together.”
Abigail and Felix had only been engaged for five months. Before that, they were betrothed for several years until shortly after she turned 18. Felix had always been a major part of Abigail’s life. According to Queen Violet, he had been there when she was born, a four year old child excitedly waiting without really understanding what he was waiting for. But all the adults were excited, so he shared their joy. And he had been by her side ever since.
When the queen used to tell Abigail that story, she would quickly skip over the few hours after she was born and go on to tell amusing stories about her early childhood, not mentioning anything about the fact that Abigail’s mother wasn’t in it because she had died shortly after delivering her.