 There are occasional performances by local dance troupes during the intermission, however there is no official dance group affiliated with the ball.The Gaskell Ball is a favorite among dancers from the Stanford, UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz social dance circles, and is widely credited for popularizing John Hertz's "Congress of Vienna Waltz" and Richard Powers' "Bohemian National Polka" choreographies.The Gaskell Ball is named for the British writer Elizabeth Gaskell.