Young have a ball of a time

The D'souza household was a flurry of activity as family members and friends darted in all directions to help dress Rebecca for the biggest event of her school year social calendar.

The St Christopher's School hosted its Summer Ball 2010 at the Grand Ambassador Suite of the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel on Friday.

It is an annual event for Year 11, 12 and 13 pupils to celebrate their successes and achievements as well as saying a fond farewell to those who are setting off to university or about to join the workplace.

Rebecca, 17, was attending the ball for the second year running but she was much more nervous and excited this time around as it was her first time as a member of the event's organising team.

The Year 12 student from Budaiya had been preparing for the event for months. "It is one of the biggest events at school and we had so many things to look after - the seating, the backdrop for photographs, entertainment and so on," she explained. "This year we chose a bronze-champagne colour classy theme."

On the big day Rebecca started her preparations with a hair appointment. She said: "My hairstyle is similar to pop singer Rihanna's. At first I thought about keeping it straight and hadn't thought of curling it ... but I think the curls enhanced my short hair and it looks fine."

After her hair appointment at the Fantana Salon on Budaiya Highway, she rushed home to get dressed ... and it quickly became a family affair. Mum Lynette, a head of investment strategies at a bank, and dad Arthur, a well-known artist, and family friend Priya Shankar kept in the shadows ready to assist when the need arose.

Although Lynette, 49, said when it came to applying make-up the schoolgirl was in a league of her own. "I don't even know how to put it on - she normally helps me out! Her fashion consultant is her father, not me."

The big issue when it comes to stepping out is the 'dress' and Rebecca explained it took endless hours searching the internet and frequent shopping trips to Bahrain's malls to find the right number for the night ... and a team effort to keep that exclusive look.

She said: "The dress is a BIG deal. We had a group created on the social networking site Facebook where students could put up their dresses so that no one came dressed the same."

She said: "I finally found the right dress from Femi 9 in the City Centre for just BD40. White is normally not my colour, but when I tried it on, it was just perfect."

After showing her friends her selection Rebecca then embarked on finding shoes and luckily enough, found just the right pair at the newly-opened Payless store in Seef Mall for BD10.

Rebecca accessorised her outfit with gold earrings, bangles and handbag which were birthday gifts.

Lynette explained that the function plays a significant part in family life.

She said: "I think I was more excited than she was! I did my schooling in South India and never got to really experience a ball like this. So I feel, like Rebecca often says, that I am vicariously living through her!

"I think the Summer Ball is a lovely thing, it gives an opportunity for children to organise something of significance and not just a party by the poolside.

"It's so much fun - the whole dressing up thing. We have been preparing for two months looking for the dress, shoes and jewellery."

Once dressed to impress she hurried on to a 'pre-party' party hosted at one of her classmate's homes where around 20 friends gathered before leaving for the ball venue.

As one of the organisers Rebecca had to arrive at the hotel early so did not need fancy transport which many of the ball-goers include as part of the experience.

Rebecca instantly recalled how last year transportation arrangements were chaotic with most of the affordable limousines booked months in advance and the remaining ones available were extremely costly.

Many of her friends went for a unique style instead of an expensive one by booking a fleet of London-style taxis, now a popular addition to island life.

All dressed up and glowing in her princess-like outfit, Rebecca had only one reason to be upset ... her regular date was away visiting family and friends in England.

But no event is complete without an 'after-party' party too and that was also the case with Rebecca's group of friends who met up again at one of their homes afterwards. Happy days!