1918-Style Soiree to Benefit Antique Fire Truck

The Metropolitan Vintage Dance & Social Club is holding its Sixth Annual Armistice Ball, a 1918-style ragtime soiree, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Madison Community House, 25 Cook Avenue.

The Metropolitan Club Orchestra will perform dance tunes of the early 20th century, and a workshop in dances of the 1910-1925 period will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ahead of the event, according to an announcement from the club.

Tickets are $30 per person in advance or $35 at the door ($15 in advance/$20 at the door with a student ID). Tickets can be purchased online at www.armisticeball.com.

The afternoon workshop will teach the basics of such ragtime-era dances as the one-step, foxtrot, tango, blues and waltz. The workshop will be led by instructors Jan and Al Seabra of Raritan, who teach vintage dance in Bridgewater. The workshop is included in the ticket price.

The band includes regionally and nationally known musicians Dan Levinson, clarinet, sax; Jay Rattman, clarinet, sax; David Sager, trombone; Dalton Ridenhour, piano; Mike Kuehn, banjo; Matt Tolentino, tuba, bass sax; and Sue Fischer, drums.

A ceremony at intermission will honor the active and retired military personnel in attendance.  Period 19-teens or ‘20s outfits, military uniforms, or appropriate modern attire is requested.

All proceeds benefit The Friends of Geraldine, a group raising funds for the upkeep of a 1921 Ahrens-Fox Model P-4 fire engine originally donated to the town by Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge.