'Let the waltz begin!' Vienna's ball season has 18th century roots, but teens now go online to dance

VIENNA (AP) — The aristocrats of the Habsburg royal court who danced in the first of Vienna ’s famed balls in the 18th century could never have imagined how the hallmark of the Austrian capital’s social and cultural scene would evolve.

Today, teenagers learn to waltz by watching YouTube videos while ladies shed their elbow-length gloves to better swipe on smartphones.

More than 450 balls occur annually in Vienna, starting Nov. 11 to mark the opening of the carnival season to Ash Wednesday before Lent begins. Professional guilds throughout the city host their own events, like the Ball of the Viennese Chimney Sweeps that marks the opening of the season.

The sparkling balls are deeply rooted in Viennese culture, blending history with modern glamour, and the waltz remains an essential part. While the average ticket costs 395 euros ($427) — though VIP boxes at the Opera Ball can go for 25,500 euros ($27,539) — other events have lowered their prices to 40 euros ($43) to attract a wider audience.

“To be a part of this for me, as an Austrian person, is like taking part in Viennese culture," Leander Selmani, 19, said. "I was watching all these ball openings on YouTube and I said ‘I want to be part of that.’”

Besides YouTube, teens must learn the carefully choreographed dances for each ball's opening ceremony from places like the Elmayer Dance School, which has been training dancers since 1919. In order to participate in an opening ceremony, dancers must first qualify through a strict regimen. Then they attend multiple lessons at a dance school and receive a stamped certificate of completion after each session.

The opening ceremonies can last two to three hours, featuring opera performances, speeches and the traditional debutantes grand opening dance. Guests gather shoulder to shoulder, eager to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.

Only once “Alles Walzer!” ("Let the waltz begin!") has been declared can the rest of the crowd join in the dancing. This year, many balls honored the 200th anniversary of the birth of Viennese composer and violinist Johann Strauss II, known as the “waltz king.”

While the waltz, the quadrille and other traditional dances are the heart of the Viennese balls, modern events now offer a diverse range of music and entertainment. Most venues feature multiple halls where guests can dance to various styles, including disco and contemporary beats.

Still, not everyone is a fan of updating the music to the 21st century.

“I’m an old-fashioned guy who doesn’t like the change of the balls,” Selmani said. “With a lot of change you might lose the cultural meaning behind it.”

Dress codes, however, have remained strictly enforced for centuries: gentlemen are required to wear tailcoats or tuxedos, and ladies must don evening gowns. Many attendees rent their attire from Lambert Hofer, a renowned costume workshop founded in 1862 that rents out hundreds of gowns each year.

For many Austrians, a ball ends not on the dance floor but on the street at one of Vienna's famous sausage stands. Once again, those elbow-length gloves must come off — this time, to eat.

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Associated Press journalist Stefanie Dazio in Berlin contributed to this report.

Young people dance waltz during the opening ceremony of the Elmayer-Kränzchen, a Traditional Ball of the Elmayer Dance School in Vienna, Austria, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Around 700 young people opened the Elmayer-Kränzchen this year, a Traditional Ball of the Elmayer Dance School in Vienna, Austria, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

A young couple dance during opening ceremony of the Lawyers' Ball in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

People watch and take pictures during the opening ceremony of the Lawyers' Ball in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Young people dance waltz during the opening ceremony of the Elmayer-Kränzchen, a Traditional Ball of the Elmayer Dance School in Vienna, Austria, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Young people participate in the opening ceremony of the Lawyers' Ball in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Cornelia Gadermayr, left, and her partner Leander Selmani, right, pose for a photo before the opening ceremony of the Lawyers' Ball in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

People dance after the opening ceremony of the Lawyers' Ball in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Young people look their phones while waiting to attend the opening ceremony of the Lawyers' Ball in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Women adjust each others hair during the Lawyers' Ball in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

A hairdresser straightens a man's hair during the opening ceremony of the Lawyers' Ball in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Young people learn to dance waltz during a rehearsal in the Elmayer Dance School in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, Febr 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Young people learn the opening choreography for the Lawyers' Ball during a rehearsal in the Elmayer Dance School in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, Febr 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Young people learn to dance waltz during a rehearsal in the Elmayer Dance School in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, Febr 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

A young couple dance in the fitting room of Lambert Hofer, a renowned costume workshop in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, Febr 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

A man's clothes lie in one of the fitting rooms of Lambert Hofer, a renowned costume workshop in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, Febr 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

A young couple watch themselves in the mirror during their fitting in Lambert Hofer, a renowned costume workshop in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, Febr 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Prepared tailcoats and tuxedos wait to be rented in Lambert Hofer, a renowned costume workshop in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, Febr 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Paper boxes are full of buttons in the workshop of Lambert Hofer, a renowned costume workshop in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, Febr 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

A man tries on his tailcoat before renting from Lambert Hofer, a renowned costume workshop in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, Febr 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

An employee holds bow ties in Lambert Hofer, a renowned costume workshop in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, Febr 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Around 700 young people opened the Elmayer-Kränzchen this year, a Traditional Ball of the Elmayer Dance School in Vienna, Austria, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Young people participate in the opening ceremony of the Lawyers' Ball in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Busch died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications, according to a statement released by his family.

Dakota Hunter, vice president of Kyle Busch Companies, said in a news release the family received the medical evaluation on Saturday.

Busch, a two-time NASCAR champion, died at 41 on Thursday, a day after passing out in a Chevrolet simulator.

Sepsis is considered a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the body has an extreme, overactive response to an infection, causing the immune system to damage its own tissues and organs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Typically the immune system releases chemicals to fight off pathogens like bacteria, viruses or fungi, but with sepsis the response goes into overdrive. The results can cause widespread inflammation, form microscopic blood clots and make blood vessels leak.

Busch was thought to have had a sinus cold while racing at Watkins Glen on May 10 and radioed in to his team saying that he needed a “shot” from a doctor after the race.

However, he bounced back to win the Trucks Series race at Dover last weekend, and then he finished 17th in the All-Star race on Sunday.

Busch, who was preparing to race Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

During the emergency call placed late that afternoon, an unidentified caller calmly told the dispatch: “I’ve got an individual that’s (got) shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and is producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.”

The caller said Busch was lying on the bathroom floor inside the complex and told dispatch “he is awake,” according to audio provided by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office. The man then gave directions on where emergency responders should go and asked that they turn off any sirens upon arrival.

NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski said he knew Busch wasn’t feeling well recently.

“Yes, but I won’t go into any specifics," Keselowski said. “But then when he ran the Truck race last week, those (thoughts) were honestly kind of erased in my mind.”

Keselowski said running multiple races on the same weekend can be difficult on a driver's health — but most don't want to miss a race for fear of being replaced.

“There’s no shortage of drivers that would love to take my seat or anybody else’s seat if we weren’t feeling well, and I think every driver feels that pressure,” Keselowski said. “All athletes do. It’s not unique to NASCAR in that sense. We’re all thinking to ourselves, ‘I don’t wanna be replaced.’ ... So you try to power through it the best you can."

Busch won 234 races across NASCAR’s top three series over his two-decade career, more than any driver in history.

All 39 drivers in the field for Sunday’s race will race with a black No. 8 decal on their car to honor Busch.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

FILE - Kyle Busch is introduced during the NASCAR All-Star auto race at Dover Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton, File, File)

An in memoriam photo of former driver Kyle Busch is displayed on the video board of the backstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

FILE - Kyle Busch waits for the start of a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)