- April 18, 2024
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Chris Sheynon didn't have much time to dance at this year's Renaissance Christmas Ball, but she was certainly part of the routines: She designed and sewed about 24 of the elaborate costumes worn by performers.
"I've always been a history buff, " she said. "I belonged to a historical recreation club for 13 years; that's where I learned costuming. And what better way to do it than to do something like this?"
This year’s peasant-themed costumes were easy, she said. The regal ones take more time and can be so elaborate and bulky that event organizers have had to arrange for special chairs to seat guests wearing them.
This year's Renaissance Christmas Ball, held Saturday, Dec. 7, was Palm Coast's fourth, the brainchild of Sheynon and four other women — Pauline Reynolds, Aida Seguritan, Maria Laurent and Jane Valdes — who met at line dancing classes and thought it would be fun to create an annual renaissance-themed Christmas event.
The event's 150 seats at the Palm Coast Knights of Columbus Hall on Old Kings Road sold out before the group even got a chance to begin formal advertising, Sheynon said, and many attendees arrived in costume.
"Most of the people here are dancers," Sheynon said. "When they start playing, they get up and they don't stop."
One of those dancers was Luda Kagan, who learned to dance at school as a young girl in her hometown of Minsk, Russia. For years, she didn’t dance, until she came to Palm Coast and got involved in the local dance scene.
She performed Russian dances at the Renaissance Christmas Ball with friends.
"It's a nice place, nice people, and many people from many different countries," she said. "I love it."
Palm Coast resident Marina Lapina learned to play the accordion in Russia before moving to the United States, and provided the melody and rhythm for many of Saturday’s routines.
Sheynon said the event is one of Palm Coast’s best-kept secrets.
“It’s a phenomenal arena to have people who have talent perform,” she said.
But that’s not the sole reason she does it.
“I really want to remind people what Christmas is all about,” she said. “It’s not about buying a million presents. It’s about friends, family and camaraderie.”
