Ball season is a special time of year for Czech culture. It is a time to indulge in festivities with friends and family. The festivities begin with formal dancing and intermingling of friends which quickly relaxes as the night progresses. As a Czech photojournalist, Jana Ašenbrennerová captured the atmosphere of three different balls during the 2013 season which took place in the southern part of the Czech Republic, all in small villages, where the nearest big town was České Budějovice.

These balls are often sponsored and organized by local associations, such as hunters, firemen, fishermen, or sports groups. Each ball is partially funded by its own raffle, where guests can buy tickets for as low as $1. The prizes vary in value and humor. A winner could take home anything from toilet paper, a trash can, a case of beer, baked goods, gift cards for a stack of hay or a tree, or even a dead duck or an entire wild pig. Along with the raffle, alcohol plays an important role in the festivities. People usually start the evening off with beers and progress into shots of all colors and sizes. Food is available, often brought individually by the participants, but the focus of refreshments is the alcohol. The event itself is a lengthy one, usually lasting until 4 or 5 in the morning.

Jana Ašenbrennerová’s captures the ambiance of these events through her skilled photography. She studied directing at the film academy in Písek and continued her education at San Francisco State University in 2003. The exhibition was a large success at its opening at the end of September. Attendees were impressed with her ability to capture the authenticity and culture of Czech balls in her photographs.

Jana Ašenbrennerová’s photos of the Czech Ball Season are now on display at the Czech Consulate in Los Angeles until the end of October. Please visit the exhibition during the office’s visiting hours of 9:30am-12:30pm.