Ball culture of the Moscow nobility of the 18th - first halfof 19th century: ceremony, entertainment or love game?

In the article on the basic of various sources, including the manuscripts and personal origin, attempt of reconstruction of ball culture of the Russian metropolitan nobility of the eighteenth and the first half of nineteenth century. The author made a conclusion of the nobility ball from compulsory state ceremony to secular entertainment determined his long time and popularity in Russia and especially in Moscow. Despite of some liberalization of ball culture in nineteenth century was one of the reasons of appearance new secular etiquette, including gender aspects, which later acquired general estate character. In article retraces the connection between the changes of dances in the balls and the character of public relation.