Prager Morgenpost 3/1/1863 published news that ‘Several members of the German Gymnastic Society [Turnverein] are arranging on 8th February a Ball in the Žofín Island Hall. The hopes of many ladies will not be fulfilled, to see on this occasion the German Gymnasts in their handsome Gymnast costumes, in that the tails for jackets of the Gymnasts have been chosen.’ Prager Morgenpost 5/1/1863 published news indicating that the date of this event changed: ‘Gymnasts Ball [Turner-Ball]. The Ball, arranged by the German Gymnasts, takes place on 10th February, namely in the Spa Hall (Little Quarter).’

A review, signed ‘§’, of this event was published by Prager Morgenpost 12/2/1863. The critic reported: ‘The German Gymnastics Ball [Der deutsche Turnerball]. One of the most elegant dance festivals of this year’s Shrovetide season was the Ball that took place the night before last, organised by a Society of German Gymnasts [einer Gesellschaft deutscher Turner] in the Spa Hall. All of those potencies that lend a Ball the character of a true dance festival were present here: tasteful decoration, an animated society made up of fun-loving young men and charming ladies, and finally, a relaxed, cheerful atmosphere. The hall was decked out in the colours red and white, with gold draping. Green bushes and blossoming plants, on which little hummingbirds and birds of paradise perched, formed a pleasant diversion for the eye. In the background were busts of Their Majesties the Emperor and the Empress, together with a bust of the father of gymnastics, Mr Jahn. Red and white, black and yellow, and black, red and gold flags provided suitable decoration. Beneath the flags was also the emblem of the local German Gymnastics Association [Turnverein] with its splendid ribbon, donated by the ladies of Leitmeritz [Litoměřice]. It almost goes without saying that the gymnasts’ slogan and their emblem, the four Fs, should also be in evidence in the hall. The Ball was declared open by Miss Heil, a niece of the German Gymnastics Association [Turnverein], Mr Seutter von Lötzen, who danced with Mr Trinkt. The dance leaders, of whom there were nine, received their dance programmes in the form of little pockets of velvet, adorned with ivory, on which the German and the gymnasts’ [Turnverein] arms were displayed. For the other ladies the dance programme comprised a little book, on which a picture of a young gymnast and the Turnverein insignia was shown. The attendants wore badges with the four Fs, to which ribbons were attached. Attendance at the ball was very high, such that the young people were not able to fully devote themselves to the enjoyment of the dance until later, when the older ladies and gentlemen had begun to withdraw, they did so all the more avidly, to make up for lost time. Guests at the ball included: the vice-president of the Prague Chamber of Commerce, Parliamentary Deputy Mr Richard Dozauer, Mr Seutter von Lötzen and a large number of officers. The city and fortress commander F.M.L. Baron Melczer also honoured the ball with his presence.’

Controversy evidently surrounded this concert. On 15/2/1863 Prager Morgenpost published a public notice from the Committee of the German Turnverein denying rumours that the event had deliberately prohibited the participation of Jewish gymnasts. The notice stated that the Committee felt that a responce to counter this rumour would be ‘beneath its dignity [es unter seiner W\urder findet]’, but was in the event compelled to declare ‘that the said Ball is not in any respect an offical Corportations Ball [Korporationsball] but is only arranged as a Society Ball [Gesellschaftsball] of the individual members, such an outdated and intolerant resolution [to prohibit Jews] would never have occurred in the minds of either the Committee of the Society or its members’. A distinction was thus implied here between official public ball events and events arranged and given by specific societies.