|
Over the past 70 years, Virginia Tech students and faculty have gathered
to celebrate the beloved and lasting tradition of Ring Dance. Established by
the Class of 1935, the Ring Dance weekend takes place in the spring of a
student’s Junior year.
The two-day celebration opens with a festive banquet honoring the ring
collection’s namesake, featuring elegant dining and entertainment. The
ceremonial Ring Presentation takes place on the second evening and begins
with a couple’s first steps into Squires Ballroom as they receive ribbons in
their Class colors, used to tie each other’s rings on their wrists for their ring
presentation. Traditionally, the women wear the darker ribbon while the men
wear the lighter ribbon.
A time-honored ritual performed by the Corps of Cadets marks the ring
presentation. Marching into the ballroom, Junior Cadets form the Ring Figure
of their graduating class year, followed by the formation of the Sabre Arch.
Under this arch, Freshman Cadets escort each Cadet’s date. The President of
the University ceremoniously announces the formal presentation of the rings.
While Moonlight and V.P.I., a song written specifically for the Ring Dance
in 1942 by Fred Waring with lyrics by Charles Gaynor, is performed in the
background, the rings are presented to Class members. For most Junior Cadets,
this is their first view of their Class ring, since they have been picked up and
hidden by their Freshman escorts until the Dance. At the conclusion of the song,
hundreds of balloons are released onto the couples below. A tradition that began
as a Corps prank many years ago is the release of a small live pig into the ballroom
for a brief period after the ring presentation. The great finale of the evening
takes place at midnight with a spectacular show of fireworks over the Drillfield.
Finally, Silver Taps is played and a report from the Skipper Cannon concludes
the event.
The Class of 2006 cordially invites you to join us on April 1 and 2, 2005 as we
take part in the magical and time-honored Virginia Tech Ring Dance.
|
