You shall go to the ball, Cinders

There is only so much hard exam graft a student can take. The only life raft in a hideous sea of revision facts and dates is the thought of post-final paper celebrations - and for many an undergraduate this consists of drunken house parties in grotty houses along with innumerable reunions in the trusty student bar.

However sometimes even a pint of your favourite grog isn't enough to let off steam - which is why student unions arrange special events to enable would-be schmoozers to celebrate in style. Despite the abundance of trendy nightspots surrounding the London universities, the tradition of the annual student ball still holds strong, attracting the top DJ's and wackiest performers.

The twenty-first century ball is a fairly carefree affair, and provided you aren't wearing your combats and trainers, anything goes. It also comes as a relief to the young, free and single to know that it is a lot cooler to turn up with a mate than a date. Whereas men were once obliged to take pity on lonely maidens by leading them onto the dance floor in a series of sprightly leaps and bounds, they are now permitted and indeed expected to move as little as possible while drinking the bar dry.

Girls can get away with wearing their favourite clubbing outfit rather than an extravagant, billowing gown - probably a good thing in view of the two-step garage and trance they are now required to dance to.

So is the student ball still a civilised, sophisticated affair or is it just another opportunity for students to intoxicate themselves with the demon drink? The University of Westminster recently held its annual summer ball, warming students up for mad summer holidays in Ayia Napa through the use of foam simulators and a casino. Meanwhile, students at the university of North London were treated to a fine selection of juvenile delights such as fire jugglers and a rodeo bull ride, while they jumped around on a bouncy castle to the sounds of MOBO winners DJ Luck and MC Neat. Not perhaps the best combination for the smooth digestion of a three-course dinner and a gutful of alcohol, but there we go.

The London unions regularly manage to bag some of the top chart acts for their annual soirees, but it is widely recognised that cheesy pop suits the frolicsome mood best. Last year chirpy crooners The Lightning Seeds visited Goldsmiths, whereas Atomic Kitten performed at UCL.

While most universities choose to hold their summer balls in their own grounds to make them more accessible for students, some hold the events at hotels. LSE staged a sit-down dinner and dance at The Savoy last year before clubbing the night away at the Rock Club.

Is this playing away from home idea likely to catch on? UCL ball organiser Nick Jones highly doubts it: "The popularity of balls, especially the summer ones, is pretty great, and as nice as fancy hotels are, they simply aren't big enough," he says. "They also fail to provide the right alcohol at affordable prices."

So it would seem that students are quite particular about what they expect of a university ball. Nick disagrees. "Students aren't fussy," he concludes: "All they want is vodka."

Check your student union for more information concerning forthcoming events. Confirmed university ball details include:

Imperial College

Saturday 16th June 2001, 7pm-4am.
Tickets from the union reception (020 7594 8060)
£50 IC student (£25 entertainment only), £60 non-IC student (£30 entertainment only).
Entertainment includes The James Taylor Quartet, Les Rhythmes Digitales and Bentley Rhythm Ace. Also a casino, wine, cigar and cocktail bar, fairground and free ice cream.

LSE

Tuesday 19th June 2001 at Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane
Tickets from Union reception (020 7955 7136)
£50 dining, £8 non-dining.
Various entertainments

QMW

Thursday 31st May 2001, 7.30pm-3am at New Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden
Tickets from information point and by credit card on 020 7882 5390
£45 before 25th May, £50 after.
Entertainment includes a live band and DJ's.

UCL

Saturday 26th May 2001, 8pm-2am
Tickets from Union second floor bar: £30 (non-dining event)
Entertainment includes DJ Zinc, Da Firin' Squad, Masterstepz, MC Creed, Girls @ Play and Sweet Female Attitude. Also a cocktail bar, fairground, TFI's dancing big headz and stilt walkers.