Watch and Learn: A Brief Guide to Stormy Fun from 80s England

British photographer Dafydd Jones spent the 80s documenting a variety of balls, receptions, and university parties in all their "drunken splendor." We suggest you look at the stormy fun that happened there and, perhaps, borrow some ideas or, conversely, think about the consequences in advance ...

William Nott and Edward Hoar at a dance party at the Budles Private Club, London, 1981. Hereinafter, the author’s comments about his photos and what is happening on them.

The first attempts to smoke cigars during the first debutant ball, which I happened to photograph.

A member of the Bullingdon club who fell asleep on a bench during the May Ball in honor of the end of the school year at Christ Church College, Oxford, June 26, 1981.

Lord Newall and the limbo dancer at a party hosted by Mrs. Yusuf Mazandi, London, May 6, 1982.

Mrs. Mazandi and her family fled from the revolution that had just happened in Iran. I think her husband worked for the Shah. After arriving in London, she began to invite the English aristocracy to her parties in Belgravia. Her parties were far more informal and relaxed than regular dinner parties. I remember during one of them, while everyone was dancing on the tables, Nigel Dempster shouted: "If only the Ayatollah saw us now!" What silenced everyone present for a moment.

Charlotte Stockdale, circa 1985.

Ball of the scandalous Pierce Gaveston Society, 1983.

It was the last of the Gaveston Pier parties I took pictures of. The dress code for the party was Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights.

Ball at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, April 6, 1985.

Clive Cook at a party hosted by Oliver Baxter. London, November 13, 1981.

My style of party photography is to try to show the most interesting moments. I knew these guys and I don’t think they played specifically for me. I did not look like a professional photographer, and people did not always notice what I was shooting. I used a small Olympus RC camera that can focus in low light. She remains a little-known classic. In fact, most of this evening was very boring. Perhaps that is why they grabbed the siphons.

Katherine Pearson at the Hitwave Ball at the Grosvernor House, London, July 22, 1987.

Lady Henrietta Bathurst at Cinderella's Ball. Hotel Dorchester, December 1980.

Cinderella Ball is a charity event that raises money for children affected by violence. For the punk era, the audience here was quite ordinary. I didn’t work for anyone. Dressed in a second-hand tuxedo, I somehow convinced the organizers to let me in. Unlike modern events, I don’t remember any other photographer there. I did not stay at the ball for long, because I had to catch the last train back to Oxford.

New College May Ball, Oxford, June 1986.

Debutante in a pond with lilies. Charles MacDowell pushes Pop Vincent during a dance evening Martin Betts, Ascot, July 23, 1982.

It is not a good idea to have parties at the pond. I drank a glass of wine, which slowed down my reaction a bit, and managed to catch this shot at the very last moment. Sticking in the middle of the reeds look like huge splashes and add a dramatic picture. A few more people finished the evening in this pond, including the hostess herself. Unfortunately, I missed this moment.

Halloween Ball, October 31, 1987.

Burning Boat, Oriel College, Oxford, 1984.

Each year, the college, who won the four-day Eights Week rowing regatta, set fire to an old boat after a gala dinner. Each time I had to make my way there before the doors opened to outsiders. I tried to remain inconspicuous until I heard loud screams and glee, and then rowers appeared and the boat caught fire. For me, this shot symbolizes the 80s, the Big Bang and Thatcher's times. It also looks pretty good upside down as an abstract composition.

Celebrations after the Rowing Competition in Cambridge, June 1984.

Alexander Fijis-Walker dances with Sarah Fazakerly at Trinity College Ball, Cambridge, June 15, 1981.

In June 1981, I did not work for anyone as a photographer, but spent a week shooting May balls in honor of the end of the school year in Cambridge. I slept most of the day, and took pictures at night. That evening I took pictures of uninvited guests trying to get to the party, and then it got dark and the guard relaxed, so that everyone could just get through. The moment captured in this picture is early morning, so there was little light. My camera was slow shutter speed. They seemed to freeze for a moment in this wonderful position.

Blizzard Ball at the Grosvernor House, London, January 7, 1986.

Feathers Charity Ball at Hammersmith Palais, London, December 1981.

This photograph shows very reliably what was happening at these youth balls. She recently participated in an exhibition organized by Tatler magazine. At the opening of the exhibition was a woman who happily recognized herself in the picture by pantyhose and an earring.